I use clay to tell stories with much of my work revolving around animals. I use them to communicate feelings of joy, love and loyalty. Some of my sculptures reflect personal experiences and others tell the stories of people who commission me to create works for them. I love that moment when the clay transforms the animal I’m working on into an almost animated state. I call this the Pinocchio moment. There is a life that comes into the eyes and that’s when I know I’ve captured what I’m looking for.

I’ve been a ceramic artist for over 40 years and during that time I’ve learned a lot about what I can make the clay do. There is a wonderful anticipation that comes with seeing what can happen when I try something new and so I am always pushing the boundaries of where I can go with this medium.

My formal education was at California College of the Arts where I studied with Viola Frey and Art Nelson. They were a wonderful pairing for a curious young art student like myself. I am forever grateful for the guidance, encouragement and love of exploration that they instilled in me.

Most recently I’ve become interested in upcycling objects by combining them with sculptural pieces I create. I enjoy the contrast of materials that happens when I repurpose an object. Glossy and new up against the patina of time. The juxtaposition of something recognizable as utilitarian paired with the whimsy of my animals and the play of scale as I incorporate the two together. It creates a fun bit of surrealism.Alexis Moyer is a potter and writer.

For more information about Alexis’s work, fill out the Contact form link above.