LAURIE POLLPETER ESKENAZI

Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi
Naperville, Illinois

Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi has worked with clay for over 25 years. While a student at the Art Institute of Chicago, Laurie explored many different mediums but always was returning to the pliable, tactile qualities of clay. She draws inspiration from memories of items found on her grandmother's dresser, old button boxes, crazy quilts, and hand tatted lace. Her pottery also is inspired by the traditional needlecrafts made by women in the 19th and early 20th century.

Working in stoneware clay, Laurie hand builds most of the pieces using a combination of coil and slab construction. Occasionally, Laurie starts her pieces on the wheel, then alters and hand builds onto them to finish the form. Each piece is highly textured by carving or pressing found objects such as button, shells, lace, vintage textiles and hand carved stamps into the clay when it is still wet. Cone 5 glazes are then painted by hand with small brushes to create a mosaic look. She strives for a non-manicured organic look. Influenced by the colors and textures found in her travels throughout France, Italy, Spain and the rural Midwest, her pallet is lush and vibrant. Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi is perhaps most famously known for her mastery of glaze patterning and critical attention to detail. Her work possesses a feminine, playful touch that speaks to contemporary sensibilities with bits of nostalgia woven into each piece.