Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Mattson.
Hi Morgan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I originally got started in clay back in 2013 while getting my bachelor’s degree at Penn State University. I realized very quickly that not only did I want to be an art teacher but I wanted to have a focus in ceramics. I got a job teaching down in Greenville at Greenville High School where I got to build my own ceramics program from the ground up! Once starting this, I finally got back to making in the studio and opened my own business in 2019. Since then I have been making and selling fun and functional work around the Greenville area in markets and local stores as well as online at www.morganmattsonceramics.com
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have had some bumps in the road, as most artists do. Selling online (which is what I prefer) is not easy. Creating an online following is not a fun thing to do but unfortunately that is the world we live in now! Clay is also a very challenging and humbling material to work with. It likes to crack, warp, and just be weird whenever it pleases. I wouldn’t trade clay for any other material though.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work revolves around being fun and functional. I love art that has a purpose, and if it looks great while doing its job, isn’t that better?! The handmade aesthetic is something that I have always gravitated towards. I throw pots on my wheel and hand build my pieces. Each piece I create has some sort of surface design to make them really stand out amongst other ceramics.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The professor who made me want to have a life in ceramics, Chris Staley, has a wonderful book Teaching Art & Life that I love dearly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.morganmattsonceramics.com
- Instagram: @morganmattsonceramics
- Facebook: @morganmattsonceramics
