16th Annual Bascom Clay Symposium

Celebrating the 16th anniversary of the Bascom Clay Symposium, the 2026 program brings together Alexander Thierry, Andrew Shaw, and Tiffany Thomas for an in-depth exploration of surface treatments in contemporary ceramics. This annual gathering offers a rare opportunity to engage closely with accomplished artists as they share the stories, inspirations, and technical approaches that have shaped their practices over time.

About the Artists

Alexander Thierry works primarily with wheel-thrown vessels and objects, using custom screen-printed underglaze transfers to create intricately layered surfaces. His process begins by painting underglaze onto screen-printed images on newsprint, which are then cut out and arranged directly onto clay surfaces in a sticker-like manner. These images are applied to functional forms ranging from cups, bowls, and plates to vases and jars with sculptural lids. Drawing inspiration from personal photographs as well as flowers and plants he encounters, Thierry’s work uses surface and form together as a means of expressing memory and personal narrative.

Andrew Shaw has spent much of his career using the potter’s wheel to create multiples, but over the past decade his practice has expanded to include alternative methods of repetition through mold-making. His work explores the use of bisque molds to form slabs into functional objects, emphasizing process-driven pattern and variation. Shaw’s approach includes designing and cutting clay ring molds that, once bisque fired, are used to shape slabs into plates, as well as developing surface patterns by rolling slabs composed of multiple clay bodies and pressing them into slump molds. This work reflects an ongoing investigation into repetition, pattern, and production within functional ceramics.

Tiffany Thomas works primarily in frost porcelain, using utilitarian pottery as a framework for translating internal experience into physical form. Her process begins with throwing basic forms, followed by the addition of wet clay elements that are carved with fine tools to resemble gemstones, crystals, or ornamental details. She sometimes incorporates stamped quotes or patterns into the surface. After bisque firing, pieces are layered with underglaze and glaze, and often finished with gold or mother-of-pearl luster in a final firing. Through these layered surfaces, Thomas balances function with introspection, using decoration as a means of meaning-making.

Together, these artists present a multifaceted examination of surface treatment as both a technical discipline and a conceptual language. The Bascom Clay Symposium invites artists, students, and enthusiasts to engage with contemporary ceramic practice through close observation, shared knowledge, and material exploration.