Terry Gess
North Carolina

Red stoneware with layered glazes
Functional
10"w x 4"l x 5.75"h

Artist Statement
I once met a woman who looked like her cat. It was subtle, but there was an unmistakable bond between pet and owner, some collaborative demeanor or design sense. Potters and their pots are no different. During the years of steadily making, marking, and firing pots, something distinctively myself has slipped into the process. It's a sensibility as intangible and fundamental to me as how I hold the salt shaker when I tilt it to pour, turn the pages of a book, or kick my potter's wheel.

About Terry
Terry Gess has always been interested in objects. He knew early on that he wanted to work with his hands, but woodwork was too dangerous, and art school was too cerebral. He found his outlet when he started classes with a potter in Milwaukee. Since that time, he’s studied and been awarded residencies across the world, shared his approach to ceramics at workshops and lectures, and become a member of the creative community around the Penland School of Craft.
Terry’s work frequently takes unusual shapes. He’s intrigued by things that are not round. This intrigue manifests in mugs with square mouths and vessels with angular textures and forms. Terry creates high-fired, red stoneware, and his work is notable for its subtle colors and interesting surfaces. His focus is on creating pieces that are useful in the home.

*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.