Take our word for it when we say the ceramic artists and potters of the Midwest are a force to be reckoned with. They have their own personal flair, crafting techniques, and various modes of inspiration. And it shows. To demonstrate, we’ve picked out handmade ceramic pieces (that are functional as well as gorgeous) for each room of your home.
Kitchen
Medium Porcelain Serving Bowl With Black Clay Rim
Liz Pechacek creates fresh and functional art fit for any kitchen. The bowl is completely customizable and allows you to choose among five accent colors, a white- or gold-glazed interior, and a porcelain or stoneware rim. This motif-covered serving bowl is perfect vehicle for serving side dishes or as an eye-catching fruit bowl on the kitchen island. Liz Pechacek Ceramics
Oil Bottles
Say goodbye to sticky, messy, and unappealing oil bottles. Sandra Shaughnessy’s ceramic pieces are wheel-thrown, hand-altered, and soda-fired (a firing technique that uses baking soda) with slips, glaze, and wax-resist designs. She characterizes her work as “ceremoniously functional.” Find Sandra’s art at Edina Art Center, Grand Hand Gallery, Northfield Arts Guild, and TheArtHouse. Sandra Daulton Shaughnessy
Bathroom
Ceramic Vessel Sink With Glass-Fused Rim
More than 800 five-star reviews don’t lie. This unique water basin from Dock6 Pottery fits both classic and contemporary settings, sure to give any style bathroom a custom, one-of-a-kind look. Functional and affordable, this pale sunshine yellow sink will make a bold statement in your home. Kerry Brooks, Dock6 Pottery
Ring and Jewelry Dish
Keep jewelry and prized possessions safe, clean, and far away from the drain. These small, hand-crafted triangular dishes add a gentle, thoughtful touch to a master bath. Joanna Buyert, the one-woman show behind Fringe & Fettle Ceramics, aims to find balance between form and function with her utilitarian, simple, and delicate pieces. Fringe & Fettle Ceramics
Living Room
Orange Vase
Ernest Miller Ceramics creates work with field- and farm-based inspiration that informs every functional piece. This 18-inch vase was thrown on a potter’s wheel, hand-altered, and carved before being dried, glazed, and fired in an electric kiln at 2,250 degrees Fahrenheit. The porcelain vessel, finished with a satin orange glaze and iron oxide, is a perfect addition to your side table, entry buffet, or coffee table. Ernest Miller Ceramics
Geode Coasters
They may be small in size, but they’ll be a big hit with anyone who catches a glimpse of their sparkle. Functional and decorative, these glass tiles from Dock6 Pottery are available in more than 40 colors and crackled designs. Each coaster has felt feet to protect and preserve wood surfaces. Kerry Brooks, Dock6 Pottery
Candle Holders
Burn candles in style with a handmade candle holder that embodies nature. With outstanding attention to detail, careful craftsmanship, and impressive technique, each item in Kate Maury’s candle holder series has something special to pique your interest. Maury is a full-time professor in the School of Art and Design at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Kate Maury
Dining Room
Boat Snack Set
Use Paul Eshelman’s ceramic set to serve chips and dip, veggies and homemade ranch dressing, or even a cream cheese ball with herb-crusted crackers. Available in 12 different colors and made with red stoneware, this versatile piece uses a lead-free glaze and a microwave- and dishwasher-safe finish. Eshelman Pottery
Dinner Plate With Blue and Green Color Blocking
Tom Jaszczak’s contemporary work is stunning in traditional and modern dining settings. He leaves scrape marks, drips, and fingerprints on his work, intentionally leaving a subtle impression of the ceramic process. Often decorated with small minimalist elements, his plates are made from red earthenware and fired in a soda kiln. Tom Jaszczak
Bedroom
“So Familiar” Wall Art
Okay, we’ll admit it: This modern and minimalist piece is not the most functional, but it sure is easy on the eyes. Potter Tina Schowalter formed individual pieces of clay, arranged and assembled them on a panel board, and then mounted the signed piece in a maple frame. A beautiful view to wake up to on a bedroom wall. AlmaArtisan-Tina Schowalter
VANGA Lamp
A bedside lamp, made by Jacob Gallant Raeder, is geometric, full of texture and color, more than 2 feet tall, and most importantly, functional. His current work is object-based and focuses on themes of intimacy and consumption. Jacob Gallant Raeder
Outdoors
Flower Pot
BWD Art Co.’s brown and green glazed planter pot will add sophistication to your patio or front porch. The custom cache pot is 7-inches wide, doesn’t have drainage holes, and is designed to hold a plastic-lined plant. BWD Art Co.
Hanging Planter
This outdoor hanging planter by BlueRoomPottery can hold up to two regular-size household plants while holding up to 30 pounds of beautiful greenery and flowers. Choose from three finishes (terracotta, white unglazed, or white shiny glaze) and two chain colors (silver or black) to customize your wheel-thrown pot sure to complement your home exterior. BlueRoomPottery,