About Polly
For more than thirty years, I have worked as a self-supported female artist, guided by purpose and integrity rather than trend. My pottery is bright, approachable, and human. It is created to be used, helping people recognize the value of everyday moments and is meant to bring greater meaning to a shared meal or a quiet cup of coffee. My work lives to serve moments of private reflection and to create greater connection between people.
At its core, my work reflects what I believe art is meant to do: transform common experiences into something inspiring and memorable. Each piece is shaped by hand and carries the honesty of true craft, one that invites interaction and trust. Through daily use, the pots I create are meant to become part of personal rituals, and turn ordinary moments into deeper experiences that feel personal and lasting.
BIO
I began my ceramics education at Warren Wilson College and the Penland School, earning a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1986. I came to Atlanta in the early 1990s and, for more than thirty years, have supported myself as a functional potter and teacher, working from my studio in Inman Park.
My practice is deeply connected to the community around me. Through decades of participation in Atlanta’s art festivals, and regional shows throughout the Southeast, my work has become part of everyday life for thousands of people. I value the connections and relationships formed through these experiences, as well as collaborations with local restaurants that use my pottery. Built through shared meals, conversations, and long-term presence, these relationships have shaped both my work and its place within the Atlanta community.
TEACHING BACKGROUND
I earned a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1986 and moved to Atlanta after being accepted into the Pottery Assistantship Program at Callanwolde. I spent 25 years teaching ceramics to both adults and children there, developing a long-standing commitment to arts education.
For more than 30 years, I have operated a pottery studio in Inman Park, where I have taught children ages 4–17 through after-school programs and summer camps, as well as private lessons for both children and adults. I have also served as a PTA-funded art teacher at Sagamore Hills Elementary and Pleasantdale Elementary, and a visiting potter at schools in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Teaching has always been a natural extension of my work as a fine artist, allowing me to share the process, values, and joy of expressing myself as an artist while encouraging creativity, confidence, and connection across generations.
