Joey Sheehan
North Carolina

Stoneware, Cone 10 Reduction-fired
Functional
10.75"w x 5.25"d x 7.5"h

About the Teapot
I think of function overall when thinking of teapot design. Many people buy or even collect teapots without the intention of actually using them, but it is very important to me that the teapot works correctly. I want the spout to pour smoothly and not drip much. I don’t want it to overflow when filled. The lid must fit snugly and be conceptually integrated. The handle should be elegant but easy to hold and pour. Once these things have been accomplished, I can think about how the design can become more playful and energetic. Teapots are inherently gestural, so I will always try to add a little bit of sass to each one. 

About Joey
I began my explorations in clay almost 14 years ago. I was seduced by the material, the wheel, and the idea that I could create something beautiful and useful simultaneously. My interest then fell into surface and color, using textural porcelain slips and layered glazes to create bright, flowing, and volatile surfaces. As I have grown and matured in life, my work has followed. I am still fascinated by glaze and surface but with a higher understanding of form and flow. I am deeply influenced by classical shapes and why and how they were made. I’m exploring a variety of building methods to create a single piece while attempting to embrace these studied forms but with a contemporary twist. In my current method of firing in a large two-chamber wood-burning kiln, I am exploring the interaction between form and fire, building a relationship in the piece between the function, surface, and the story of the firing process. Each pot is made and placed in the kiln conscientiously with expectation and openness—a desire for success and a pupil’s acceptance of the result.

*Teapots that are sold must remain on display in the gallery as part of the exhibit until the show closes on September 10, 2020.  After the show closes, teapots will be carefully packed and shipped by September 26 or available for pick-up at the gallery.