I’m a potter from Chicago with a lot of Midwestern Pride. I grew up in the suburbs next to a large tall grass prairie reserve and then moved to Chicago after college and have lived lakeside in Rogers Park for the last 9 years.  I draw inspiration from these iconic Midwestern landscapes and see them inform my aesthetic choices in the studio.  My work is minimal and clean like these open spaces and I like to combine rich, saturated colors (like the bright blues of Lake Michigan or vibrant yellows in the prairie) with subtle or pale colors (like those found in a dormant winter prairie or snow covered urban landscapes).  So much beauty is found in simplicity, subtlety and repetition and our open lands are a great classroom for developing and deepening an appreciation for this perspective. Here, in the absence of spectacle, detail and nuance have a chance to make their case to captivate your imagination and stoke wonder.

I think life is enriched by some of the routines we had as kids....play and quiet, almost in ceremony.  I hope to encourage curious play, exploration and enjoyment in the beautiful landscapes that surround Chicago by highlighting them, celebrating them and then giving back to them.  I also hope to encourage quiet ceremony by creating pieces that aid intentionality, mindfulness, rest and add beauty to your home and meals shared with friends and family.  

I make both functional and sculptural work, mostly on the potters wheel in my studio in Albany Park. My glazes are fired to cone 6 and are food safe, microwave and dishwasher safe. I use four different clay bodies to add depth and variety to my collection of colorful glazes.

-Angela Venarchik