CJ Niehaus
Illinois

Porcelain with underglaze pencil illustration & underglaze washes
Functional
5.75"w x 9.5"l x 8.5"h

About the Artist
CJ Niehaus received her BA in Art Therapy from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and her MFA from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Following school, she was awarded a residency at Paducah School for Art and Design. CJ has taught college-level ceramics and art history classes along with studio assisting and pursuing her own work.  CJ's illustrative work is created with underglaze pencil and underglaze washes, each one done individually by hand and drawing inspiration from narratives of her past and the natural world. She currently shares her technique through Amaco demonstrations and workshops.

Artist Statement
To catch a crawfish, you have to walk in the creek. You have to be okay with flies buzzing about your face and smidges of gushy mud clinging to your shoes because crayfish hide under the rocks of shallow waters in the crik behind the house. Upon seeing the right kind of rock, which is the right kind of rock after picking up the wrong kind of rock, you must very gently lift the stone so as not to disturb the water too much. Too much agitation can create a cloud of silt that obscures your view and alerts the crayfish to your intent.
And so a childhood memory goes-and my life in clay- the exploration of a visceral material that delights in the occasional "capture" of an idea amidst the frequent upending of the wrong stones. Getting dirty and periodically bitten becomes part of the joy of discovery- mainly of myself - the parts that remained buried under the years of fallen leaves in the backyard.
Each successful snare is a moment- each line drawn a tendril of memory that, at times, barely holds on- and the colors muted as recall fades and the edges become blurry.
Nevertheless, it is a rush when that small wriggling idea is grasped and held, if only for an instant, because it explains me and how I am now. But the greatest satisfaction is when I release it- allowing it to be free and also allowing me to be.

*Teapots that are purchased will remain on display in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition, through September 14, 2026. 
After the show closes, teapots will be carefully packed and shipped by September 28, or they may be picked up at the gallery.