Life Vessels, has traveled a long and evolving path. The concept first emerged during my graduate studies, taking shape in ways I couldn’t yet fully articulate. I briefly revisited the theme at the turn of the century, working in clay once more before stepping away. When I returned to clay in 2023, I found myself instinctively exploring these forms again—though their meaning remained elusive.

It wasn’t until May of 2025 that I had a revelation: these vessels are reflections of life itself. They embody the losses we endure – the holes cut into the pot leaving voids, the journeys we take – the lines around the pot, and the episodes that mark our existence – the marks, dents and dots on the pot. Each piece with handles and the relationship of those handles to each other speaks to the relationships that define us—whether with a spouse, a parent, a child, God, or something more abstract. Some connections are symbiotic, flowing seamlessly between entities, while others are starkly perpendicular, clashing and contrasting in unexpected ways. And within each vessel, there is an untold tempest, symbolized by the tail of the lid spiraling down into the pot—the inner struggles we conceal from the world, even from those closest to us.

Like life itself, these vessels are composed of many distinct parts, all converging to tell a singular, deeply personal story.

My Life Vessels pieces consist of 3 series currently; Clay Bag Series, Unusable Teapot Series, and Tempest Bowl Series.