Tony Borchardt
Missouri

Ceramic and Steel
Functional
6.5"w x 6.5"l x 11.25"h

About the Artist
Tony Borchardt began his career as a production potter and has been creating ceramic work for over thirty years. After earning his MFA, he has spent nearly 25 years as an instructor and mentor in the ceramic arts, teaching full-time and leading workshops through his home studio and community art centers. He is deeply committed to sharing the knowledge and skills he has gained from his mentors and his own experiences.
Borchardt continues to exhibit his work at leading national art fairs and exhibitions across the United States. With a focus on functionality, his ceramics are influenced by industrial forms and architectural structures, blending utility with a strong, design-driven aesthetic.

Artist Statement
Geometric forms and machine-influenced structures—such as oil cans, camping equipment, and architectural elements—inform my work. I’m drawn to their clarity, efficiency, and purpose, translating these qualities into functional ceramics with a strong, industrial presence.
Surface plays a key role in my practice. Using a high-fired iron clay body, I develop textures that suggest wear and age, giving each piece a sense of history. High-magnesium glazes create cracking and crawling effects that mimic peeling paint and weathered surfaces.
By combining precise, utilitarian forms with distressed finishes, my work explores the tension between new and old—creating objects that feel both purposeful and timeworn.

*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.