Howdy!
Chris Koppi is a studio potter from Asheville, North Carolina. Their practice focuses on decorative wheel thrown forms, using a variety of atmospheric firing techniques to decorate their work. In recent years, they have worked on developing their formal style, alongside undertaking a research project on the subject of ceramic surface decoration. Their most recent work explores the relationship between personal control and the process of creating, exploring the volatility of Saggar firing and organic interventions.
My Practice
Through ceramics, I engage with transformation—of material, of process, and of being. My work is deeply rooted in the interplay between control and unpredictability, where traditional vessel forms become the foundation for experimental surface treatments. By embracing atmospheric firing techniques such as saggar firing, I invite organic interventions that blur the line between intention and chance, allowing each piece to emerge with a unique and unrepeatable history.
I am particularly drawn to the way that fire, minerals, and time collaborate in the kiln. The process of firing is one of erasure and revelation—materials burn away, glazes shift, and surfaces are forever altered. This volatility is at the core of my practice. I push materials to their limits, questioning how much strain a form can endure, how much instability a glaze can withstand, and ultimately, how failure itself can be an integral part of creation.
My work exists in conversation with tradition while seeking new possibilities within an ancient medium. Each piece is a negotiation between what I can control and what I must surrender to the kiln. In this way, my practice is a continuous exploration of the unknown—an evolving dialogue between process, material, and transformation.
My CV
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My CV *
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