Terraform Clay Studio



Terraform Clay Studio

About The Artist

Andrew Rivera • Hutchinson, MN
Ceramics

Ceramic artist Andrew Rivera of Terraform Clay Studio received his BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture from The University of Minnesota Duluth. He completed the MN NICE certificate program at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis as well as a long-term residency at The Clay Studio of Missoula. Andrew currently works out of his home studio and teaches ceramics in the Twin Cities area. Inspired by function, history, design, and culture, his wares reflect on personal identity and his Mexican heritage.



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Q&A with the Artist

Tell us how your work is made.

I make functional ceramics with multiple techniques to create unique forms and interesting surfaces. I combine hand-building and wheel throwing to create a contrast of hard edges and soft lines. My surfaces are composed of a terra sigillata base, an underglaze wash, a borax wash, and silkscreened underglaze imagery. I draw my designs digitally and cut them from vinyl. I transfer the vinyl onto a silkscreen and use that as a printing mask. Finally I add a clear liner glaze and fire to finish.


What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

I've always been passionate about art. I started being inspired by my dad to draw. This led me to pursue creative classes in school. I began creating pottery in my freshman year of high school and never stopped! I had a very supportive and talented ceramics teacher that propelled me to continue with ceramics through my college career. Ceramics has always been fascinating to me because it's able to represent every form of art from printmaking, to drawing, to sculpture, and beyond.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

A lot of people when first seeing my work have questions about it. Some of them assign their own perspective to it and others ask me my own. The most unexpected part of my work is the weight that it carries. Some people may see them as just mugs with skulls and bones, but when they take the time to ask about the work they are usually surprised at how much thought has gone into every aspect of the work.