Mike Cinelli
Mississippi

Earthenware, Wheel-thrown, Cone 04 Fired
Functional
8"w x 5"d x 7"h

Artist Statement
The patina of time is able to instantly imbue an object with a sense of mystery and narrative, while ideas of the future often spark promise and wonder.
I've always had an equal fascination with both the reality of the past and fantasy of science fiction's future. The saturated colors of pulp sci-fi and comic books inform my color palette while historical ceramics apprise the function and form of my vessels.
In my work, I seek to create relics of a future that has yet to occur, layering the aesthetics of history with the aesthetics of a science fiction reality. By bringing these two worlds together, I pursue the creation of objects that are familiar and identifiable, but whose purpose or use is sometimes obfuscated, leaving the user to fill in the gaps and create their own narrative.

About Mike
Mike Cinelli is a ceramic artist, father, and occasional husband residing in Taylor, Mississippi. Born and raised in Ormond Beach, Florida, he first attended the University of Florida, where his initial serious interest in clay began. After relocating to Mississippi, he received his BFA (ceramics) from the University of Mississippi in 2014. The following year, he filled a one-year position as the Ceramic Studio Technician for the University of Mississippi.
His work has been displayed nationally and internationally in numerous juried and invitational exhibitions. He was featured in the August 2016 issue of Ceramics Monthly as a contributor to “From Idea to Finished Form.” In March 2019, his work was featured on the cover of Pottery Making Illustrated. Currently, he is attempting to juggle his studio practice, being a father and husband, and maintaining a rigorous schedule of complaining on the internet.

*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.