Jessica Thompson-Lee is a ceramic artist and art educator from Kansas City, MO, and is currently living and working in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BFA in ceramics from The University of Kansas and her MA in art education from the University of Missouri Kansas City.
Artist Statement
I’m heavily inspired by biomorphic forms. I look to nature for much of my inspiration; fungi, diatoms, coral, insects, rock formations, and the human body. I’m not copying exactly what I see but rather using them as inspiration and trying to translate parts of the natural world to expressive, abstracted forms in my ceramic artwork. I see my pieces as “mash-ups.” I like to unexpectedly merge biomorphic forms with abstract, colorful designs. Along with being a celebration of nature, my work is a celebration of color. Color evokes emotions. With the vibrant color palettes in my work, I aim to unlock and spark a joyful emotional experience when someone uses my pieces. As well, I want my work to have a sense of playful expression. The colors and shapes move and dance across the mugs in a playful, whimsical way.
My designs always start with and are primarily created during the playful, experimental, and somewhat unpredictable process of “drawing” with clay. After filling a squeeze bottle full of porcelain slip, I squeeze liquid clay designs onto a plaster slab, never knowing exactly how the designs will turn out. This unpredictability is both an important and enjoyable part of the process; each design is unique. After being fired, each piece goes through a different type of transformation. Sometimes they become wearable art. Sometimes they are used as models and inspiration for larger carved ceramic sculptures or components of functional pieces. Sometimes they even deviate from the medium of clay and are transformed into the language of bronze.