About

 

Ceramic artist Emily Rose Bourne has had her hands in clay for over two decades, developing unique surface decorations to adorn functional and sculptural works.

She started playing with clay in 1997, taking children's pottery classes with Bonnie Stearns in Brattleboro, Vermont. Bourne also frequently visited the Brattleboro Clayworks, watching family friends Teta Hilsdon, Naomi Lindenfeld, and Matthew Tell as they worked in their pottery studio.

After earning a BFA in Ceramics from the Maine College of Art, Bourne returned to Brattleboro to work for Laura Zindel Design as a production assistant. Bourne is now a member, studio technician, and teacher at the Wheelhouse Clay Center in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont. 

Bourne takes inspiration from a wide range of historical ceramics and contemporary styles. These inspirations include Chinese pottery from the Song and Tang Dynasties, Korean celadon ware, and Pre-Columbian American funerary art. Living close to nature in Vermont also provides a deep well of inspiration to draw from.

"These objects provide a tangible link to the past, the fingerprints of potters are embedded within every piece. Ceramic objects can outlive all of us. They reflect who we are, our values, our customs, and our desires."

Emily Rose Bourne's work is available in the Wheelhouse Clay Center Gallery, Fire Arts Vermont, and at Main Street Flea events.