Tracy Teagarden

I grew up in Alfred, NY and was fortunate enough to be constantly surrounded by art. I knew from a young age I wanted to be an artist, but didn’t know what medium to choose. It wasn’t until I went away to college did I discover my love for ceramics.

I received my BFA at Stony Brook University on Long Island in 2006. In 2008, I taught ceramic classes at the Wellsville Creative Arts Center as the Artist in Resident and became studio manager soon after. In 2009, I was accepted as a Special Student at Alfred University where I studied under Walter McConnell and John and Andrea Gill for one semester.

I was awarded Honorable Mention in the Louisiana State University “20x20”x20” International Exhibition, and received the New York Foundation for the Arts Strategic Opportunity Stipend in 2008-2009.

I currently have representation at ArcherWest Gallery in Quincy, MA, and I am a fulltime studio artist residing in Alfred, NY.

My abstract ceramic sculptures and installations are directly influenced by oceanic organisms, plants and cell structures. In particular, I have been strongly influenced by the textures, shapes and fragility of coral.

Coral is energetic, colorful and full of life; however, even in death coral is beautiful. What fascinates me is the fact that dead coral forms a vast graveyard of stark white calcium rock formations. The purity of porcelain reflects this beauty and translates well in my work.

I’m always looking for ways to stretch the boundaries of porcelain.  By experimenting with light and how it plays off the textures and shapes I create, I’m also working to achieve transparencies in my sculptures by utilizing porcelain paper clay. Having the ability to use transparent porcelain will allow additional opportunities to experiment with light.

Emotions and imagery affect my building process from meticulous slab building to quick manipulation of the clay by pinching, pulling, and most importantly incorporating textures. Textures are important to my work because it adds a sense of depth and character to my sculptures.

My forms can be energetic and full of color with a feeling of architectural strength, yet yield to extreme contrasts of fragility, lack of color, dark contrasts of light, and sometimes lack lively movements. I’m taking these forms to the next level, stretching, pulling and manipulating the clay to see how much movement I can achieve while working with the sculpture’s fragility.

I like to think of myself as an explorer. I’m an ever evolving, inquisitive, always learning and constantly changing artist; who is always challenging my methods of creation.

 Current Work