Artist Statement

In my work I juxtapose silhouettes of nature with simple, ceramic forms. I use the surface techniques of sgraffito and mishima, an inlay style, on porcelain clay with the intention of causing the viewer to pause, find stillness and become aware of their own inner contemplation. 

My aesthetics of design are informed by the compositions and curved flow of art nouveau lines and the careful consideration of positive and negative space on and around the form. Inspiration comes from personal observations that drive me to create a dialogue between beautiful, fragile botanical shapes with simple, stoic, timeless forms. In my own history gardens are markers of my past and present.  Botanic moments and memories are where I find symbolic meaning when integrating them with a vessel.  

Bio

Mary LaBianca is a ceramic artist working in the Asheville River Arts District. She is an artist in residence at Mars Hill University since January 2025, and a member of the Clayspace cooperative since May 2024. She graduated from Haywood Community College’s Professional Craft’s program in clay in 2024, and also has a Diploma in Clay from HCC. Mary was a guest vendor with the summer 2024 Craft Guild of the Southern Highlands show, and has sold work at the Big Crafty for numerous years. Her work is also available for purchase through the John C.Campbell Folk School shop. Mary has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from UNC Asheville with concentrations in painting, drawing and dance and an MFA in Choreography and Performance from Mills College in Oakland CA. Mary spent many years teaching and choreographing dance prior to finding the quietude of making pots. Her work brings together form and surface with a quiet focus in functional, interpretable pots.