Artist Statement

As a classical musician, I have always been drawn to pattern, repetition, and the deep satisfaction of structure. These qualities are also at the heart of my ceramic work, where my primary focus is on surface decoration. Each form is shaped from the start to lend itself to geometric patterning inspired by the clean lines and elegance of Art Deco design. Working in porcelain, I put the material’s extraordinary beauty at the center of everything I do. A halo of black underglaze defines each facet, while translucent glazes pool toward the base of each segment, deepening in color and catching light like stained glass. The contrast between the glazed areas and the raw clay lines invites you to see the material through different lenses. My hope is that the patterned texture and luminous glaze result in work that people enjoy holding and turning in their hands: a reminder that the objects we surround ourselves with every day are precious and should be cherished.

Artist Biography

A classically trained oboist and professional reed maker based in Washington DC, Bethany Slater brings a musician's sensitivity and precision to the ceramic arts. She has found that the same principles that govern oboe reed-making - patience, attention to detail, and respect for the material - translated seamlessly to ceramics when she took her first wheel-throwing class as an adult. Slater now maintains an active studio practice, exhibiting her work in galleries across the United States, including a piece that was published in Ceramics Monthly. She teaches pottery at local community studios and enjoys helping other adult beginners discover ceramics as she once did. Bethany received her BM from the Eastman School of Music and went on to study at the Paris Conservatory as a Fulbright scholar. She currently performs with the Inscape Chamber Orchestra.