Biography
Born and raised in Red Lodge, MT, Sue Tirrell received a BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1997. She served as Education Director for the Custer County Art & Heritage Center in Miles City, MT for seven years where she implemented arts education outreach to rural schools and communities. She has been a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT; California State University, Chico; and the Custer County Art & Heritage Center in Miles City (also director of education from 1998 to 2005). Tirrell's work has been included in regional and national juried and invitational exhibitions and museums.
Sue's work explores themes of the West and nature. She investigates cultural stereotypes of the west in a witty and whimsical way with her cowgirls and cowboys that have an underlying tongue and cheek humor to them playing with sentiment, nostalgia and kitsch. Her rich glazes have a seductive quality while the work refers to several ceramic traditions from Greek to Chinese to Folk art.
Tirrell's work has continued to gain widespread attention and acclaim. In 2006, images of her work were published in the book "500 Animals in Clay" (Lark Books).
Artist's Statement:
"Winston Churchill once said: 'No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.'
I strive to live and make artwork by this credo."
All my life I have loved making things with my hands. Tree forts, doll clothes, sculptures of animals, pies, pottery, knitted socks, jam. I love the practice of choosing and assembling materials; getting physical with the process; following the piece from idea to tactile, useful, beautiful, delicious object. When my work is finished, I know the best part is yet to come... sharing these gifts from my hands makes my efforts joyful, the work a pleasure. Thank you for welcoming this handmade object into your life!
My pots are made by hand, one at a time, in my rural Montana studio. The windows in my workspace look out at ground level where chances are good that an animal - large or small, wild or domestic - will stop by for a curious visit. These creatures inspire and inform my work with their gentle, constant presence. Due to the nature of handmade pottery, pieces may vary slightly in size, shape or detail. For maximum enjoyment, hand wash gently and use daily!
Born and raised in Red Lodge, MT, Sue Tirrell received a BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1997. She served as Education Director for the Custer County Art & Heritage Center in Miles City, MT for seven years where she implemented arts education outreach to rural schools and communities. She has been a resident artist at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT; California State University, Chico; and the Custer County Art & Heritage Center in Miles City (also director of education from 1998 to 2005). Tirrell's work has been included in regional and national juried and invitational exhibitions and museums.
Sue's work explores themes of the West and nature. She investigates cultural stereotypes of the west in a witty and whimsical way with her cowgirls and cowboys that have an underlying tongue and cheek humor to them playing with sentiment, nostalgia and kitsch. Her rich glazes have a seductive quality while the work refers to several ceramic traditions from Greek to Chinese to Folk art.
Tirrell's work has continued to gain widespread attention and acclaim. In 2006, images of her work were published in the book "500 Animals in Clay" (Lark Books).
Artist's Statement:
"Winston Churchill once said: 'No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.'
I strive to live and make artwork by this credo."
All my life I have loved making things with my hands. Tree forts, doll clothes, sculptures of animals, pies, pottery, knitted socks, jam. I love the practice of choosing and assembling materials; getting physical with the process; following the piece from idea to tactile, useful, beautiful, delicious object. When my work is finished, I know the best part is yet to come... sharing these gifts from my hands makes my efforts joyful, the work a pleasure. Thank you for welcoming this handmade object into your life!
My pots are made by hand, one at a time, in my rural Montana studio. The windows in my workspace look out at ground level where chances are good that an animal - large or small, wild or domestic - will stop by for a curious visit. These creatures inspire and inform my work with their gentle, constant presence. Due to the nature of handmade pottery, pieces may vary slightly in size, shape or detail. For maximum enjoyment, hand wash gently and use daily!