– Portz Pottery –

Handmade

Ceramic Artwork

in Portland, Oregon

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Biography

I grew up in a rural farming community in the Midwest. From a young age, I worked with clay, digging yellow and blue clay from Iowa stream beds with my siblings to make small pinch pots and “pancakes” that dried in the sun and washed away with the next rain. I learned to throw on the pottery wheel in middle school and immediately fell in love with the craft. However, after high school, limited access to equipment and materials led me to drift away from pottery for a time. More than 15 years ago, pottery became a serious pursuit again while having full time employment in Horticulture. I worked with clay at a community studio and five years later I started selling my work at art festivals.

Since then, my work has developed over time with several themes. My pieces feature minimalist designs accented with rainbow colors, various shapes, some with nude male drawings. I incorporates lines, circles, dots, and sometimes trees for a NW feeling. I use sgraffito techniques in platters and specialty mugs. These elements add visual depth, playfulness, and a tactile quality to my work, inviting viewers to connect through both sight and touch.

My ceramic queer work is influenced by being raised in the Midwest very few visible queer influences. I did not meet any openly gay people until attending university. Until then, my only references to queer identities came from TV and the internet. This experience has deeply informed my perspective and creative voice. I strive to create ceramics that go beyond visual appeal, crafting pieces that engage the senses and invite a deep, emotional connection through sight, touch, and presence.

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Artist Statement

I am a full time potter and ceramic artist that creates functional, wheel-thrown pottery with occasional hand-built additions. The wheel is where I feel most at home. I carve designs, add decoration, and apply color by hand, carving and applying layers of underglazes and glazes to bring depth and dimension to each piece. I primarily work with white stoneware and fire to cone 6 in an electric kiln, though some pieces are atmospherically wood-fired or gas-fired with salt or soda. My work often has a textured, tactile quality achieved through carving or by leaving surfaces unglazed.

My designs are influenced by the Pacific Northwest and a queer perspective. I’ve developed several bodies of work over time. One series is more commercial, featuring rainbow motifs and a modern playful design. Another explores queer themes and the nude male form, sometimes in sexually suggestive poses. Bringing my identity as a gay man into my artwork has made it extremely personal. I now make the kind of work I wish I had seen growing up, pieces that are both affirming and accessible to a wide range of audiences.

I’m especially interested in reimagining how the male nude is represented in art. Too often, it’s viewed as crude or overtly sexual when displayed publicly. I aim to create work that is sensual and intimate, while also sexual. I aim to present the nude male form as something beautiful, desirable, and welcome in everyday spaces.

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Ceramic planters with a Pacific Northwest feel

After many years working in the horticulture industry, I decided to make ceramic planters. Generally they are 2″, 4″, or 6″ in size. The interior is glazed and the exterior is left unglazed with the feel of raw clay.

Find planters available on etsy

The original design of the striped rainbow pride mug!

This is the original rainbow mug that I have been making for over 7 years now. It features the 3 primary and 3 secondary colors of the rainbow. I use a combination of design and color to add depth. This mug holds approximately 10 – 12 oz. It features an unglazed exterior, leaving the surface with the feel of raw clay. The interior, exterior lip and handle are glazed for comfort and functionality.

Find it available on etsy

The modern design of dots, lines, and circles

This design came from the addition of elements over time. It all started with the lines. Then I added the colorful dots, but it didn’t feel finished. Then I added the different sizes of circles and it all came together. This mug holds approximately 10 – 12 oz. It features an unglazed exterior, leaving the surface with the feel of raw clay. The interior, exterior lip and handle are glazed for comfort and functionality.

Find it available on etsy

Small bud vases

Great for that little bouquet of flowers for the center of a table for two! This one features my modified rainbow design., I use a combination of design and color to add depth. It features an unglazed exterior, leaving the surface with the feel of raw clay. The interior and exterior lip are glazed for functionality.

Find it available on etsy

Nude male designs featured on mugs

I explore queer themes and the nude male form, sometimes in sexually suggestive poses. Bringing my identity as a gay man into my artwork has made it extremely personal. I’m especially interested in reimagining how the male nude is represented in art. Too often, it’s viewed as crude or overtly sexual when displayed publicly. I aim to create work that is sensual and intimate, while also sexual. I aim to present the nude male form as something beautiful, desirable, and welcome in everyday spaces.

Find similar work available on etsy

More male nude ceramic artwork

I work on many surfaces including vases, plates, platters, tiles, etc. I create images and transfer them to the still wet clay. The images are carved into the clay and underglaze is applied.

Find similar work available on etsy