Gerard Ferrari - Raptor with Jeweled Mellon, Beak Piercings, and Tribal Markings: Orphaned Teapot
Gerard Ferrari
Connecticut
Terracotta, multi-fired distressed surface, underglaze, glaze, and metallic overglaze
Non-functional
12.25"w x 6"l x 9.5"h
About the Teapot
The teapot's surfaces are inspired by age-induced patinas. I am obsessed with humanity's discarded, thus orphaned, objects, and nature's reclamation of such debris evident in rust and decay.
Using trompe l'oeil rusted surfaces on these orphaned teapots, I establish a narrative dialogue with viewers concerned about the current dystopia and the possible end of "life as we know it." However, it is my hope that these orphaned teapots will also inspire thoughts of a future utopia.
About the Artist
Gerard Ferrari holds an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BA from Berea College. With the guidance of his professors, the influence of fellow artists, and his own creative exploration, he has reinterpreted traditional clay‑forming techniques to create visually complex artworks. Ferrari constructs his sculptures from multiple hand‑built components, each shaped and finished individually before being assembled into a cohesive whole.
Artist Statement
The Orphaned Teapot Series is my response to the current interest in fun and funky teapots. The essence of these orphaned objects is shaped by a question often posed in science fiction: how will life appear in the future?
I use this question as inspiration for the Orphaned Teapot Series. This group of playful characters is an amalgamation of biology, mechanics, and technology. The visual language of industrial machinery, early unrealized inventions, militaristic devices, contemporary technology, and mid-twentieth-century appliances and toys influences these abstract sculptural forms.
At this point, humanity and technology are intricately connected. It seems evident that science fiction’s cyborg may be close to becoming reality. What will carbon- and silicon-based life forms look like, and how will these chemical combinations co-exist within living organisms whose genes have also been manipulated and altered?
*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.
About National Teapot Show XIII
Cedar Creek Gallery's National Teapot Show XIII is an invitational event featuring teapots crafted by artists from across North America. More than 200 hand-crafted teapots created using a broad range of materials - including pottery, glass, wood, fiber, and mixed media.
Teapots in the show come in all shapes and sizes! Some are functional - just right for your daily cup of tea, while others are created as sculptural teapots.
Every teapot in the show is available for purchase.
All teapots will remain on display (including those already sold), both online and in the gallery, through September 14, 2026.