Collection: Sam Briegel - Featured Artist

Artist Statement:

In my work, I use the shared vocabulary between the body and the vessel to explore the emotional and cultural landscapes of clothing and the body, embracing the inherent tension between self-acceptance and societal expectations. I make functional porcelain pieces inspired by clothing and the garment-making process. Each piece is infused with multiple textures and patterns from my personal wardrobe and items that hold meaning, whether because of their comfort, beauty, or the memories they evoke.

Seams play a prominent role in my work as metaphors for connection. They signify the relationships between textures and patterns, the ways bodies connect with materials, and the ways we connect with each other. This is my offering of reclaimed comfort- pottery that invites nourishment, tactile engagement, and introspection to elevate daily food and drink rituals.

Bio: 

Sam Briegel is a ceramic artist from Knoxville, Tennessee. She earned her MFA in Ceramics from Ohio University (2018) after completing her BFA at the University of Tennessee and a post-baccalaureate certificate at the University of Montana. Briegel has held residencies at District Clay Center in Washington, DC, and at Baltimore Clayworks as their Lormina Salter Fellow. Her work has been represented at the Smithsonian Craft Show (2020–2022), and she has led workshops and visiting artist engagements nationwide. She currently works from her home studio near Baltimore, Maryland, and teaches part-time at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Find Sam’s Artaxis page: https://artaxis.org/samantha-briegel/

Find Sam's Instagram: @sambriegel