My Story

My artistic journey began in the 1960s at The Ohio State University. An instructor showed me his small, realistic sculptures of ceramic suitcases. I can still see every detail when I close my eyes. Inspired, I began creating ceramic pieces that reflected experiences and memories from my youth: iconic everyday items and powerful symbols of cultural history.

My recent work combines motion and sound—something that is unique in ceramic sculpture.

I express my ideas and feelings through my sculptures. Although I have worked in stone, metal and other materials, clay is my medium of choice. I have found that it enables me to put more of myself into a piece, inviting invention, intention and serendipity. It can be a forgiving medium, but I have also come to respect its limitations when choosing my subjects.

Over the years, my approach has focused on a variety of hand-building techniques, which introduce architectural principals into the process. Each work is created in stages. Some pieces can be ready to fire in a week, while others can stretch over months.  I use low-fire exclusively, as it gives glazes the intense color and vibrant pop that imbue my sculpture with an engaging, larger-than-life quality.

The process still seems magical to me, especially when the end result exceeds my initial vision. Perfection, of course, is endlessly elusive…but only when I feel a piece can no longer be improved do I truly consider it done.

—Barbara Schwartz, 2024