Matt Repsher, a ceramic studio artist from Santa Fe, New Mexico, held a demonstration on Oct. 30 and 31 in Southern Utah University’s ceramics studio.
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics, Repsher makes a living from his art. Besides his studios, he has the opportunity to share his works in galleries and exhibitions. One of his most popular pieces is a mug, which he designs in all shapes and sizes.
During his presentation, in less than a few minutes, Repsher created with precision numerous pieces, including plates, bowls, lanterns and weed pots. He used several techniques, including blowing air inside a weed pot to shape the object into its rounded form. Students were impressed and surprised by these techniques.
“It is insane to see how easily he can pull out a piece that I think will take us hours to get it to that level,” said Maliah Johnson, a biology student who has been practicing ceramics since high school. “[It’s] cool to have another perspective on how you can do it.”
As Repsher worked, he invited students to touch his artwork and tools. He brought a large vase to trim and passed it around the room for students to feel its weight. While removing the clay excess on the bottom of a piece, Repsher explained how he had been surrounded by pots his entire life and why he loved ceramics so much.
“Beside having my dad’s knowledge, getting that practical touch with the material is really how I fell in love with it,” said Repsher.
During his lecture, the artist confided how he was strongly inspired by the landscapes surrounding him, and how these create the majority of the patterns and colors in his work. As he recently visited France, many of his recent works have been based on the structural framework of the castles he toured.
“I learn a lot by looking at his tricks. Everybody does things differently, so there’s always something to gain,” said Jason Walker, assistant professor of ceramics at SUU. “Just looking at the way he designs his pieces with layers, I’m really fascinated.”
Repsher’s artwork is varied and full of color. For students who are interested, more information about the artist and his work can be found on his Instagram.
Author: Fanny Felixine
Photographer: Fanny Felixine
Editor: Tessa Cheshire
Copy Editor: Kayd Johanson
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