Meet the Artist: Oliver Elias Pottery
Learning to center.
Every artist on Latchet has a great story. We’re excited to start sharing them with you.
One of the highlights of this summer has been getting to know this great and growing artist community. A few Latchet locals welcomed us into their studios, garages, and creative spaces to show us how they bring their craft to life. (Check out the process videos on our Instagram!)
We’re kicking off an Artist Stories series to share some of these journeys in greater depth. You’ll see occasional features here, and you can always find more on Latchet.
For the first installment of our series, please meet Oliver Elias of Oliver Elias Pottery.
How did you get your start in being a ceramicist?
I took my first pottery class sophomore year of high school and I instantly fell in love with the process of throwing on the wheel. Centering is the first yet hardest part of throwing on the wheel, and once you get over that hump, the world just opens up for you. I fell in love with the entrepreneurial side of it when friends asked me to make them mugs, I sold it to them, and I realized I could really turn this into a business. Sophomore to junior year of high school I kept growing and learning, and in senior year I decided to pursue it in college. I got my BFA at Kansas City Art Institute, and now I’m back in Minneapolis and starting my business.
What’s your favorite thing about using clay as your medium?
My favorite thing is that it’s an extremely forgiving medium. Also, you can truly make anything out of clay. I love that I’m able to create art that’s functional. I love the fact that I can create something for everyday use and have that be in people’s homes.
If you could do any other type of art, what would you choose?
I think I’d want to try another 3D medium. I wish I was better at woodworking. My dad’s a woodworker, so I think that would be great. I think that would be really useful. All of my displays are made out of wood and my dad makes those for me. I would also want to try wood turning, where people make wooden bowls, and I think that would translate well from what I do now.
What inspires your artwork?
Midcentury modern is definitely a big inspiration for my work right now. I’ve also gained a lot of inspiration from furniture design, especially with my lamps and side tables. Also, my mom being an artist for my entire life has given me lots of inspiration. The fact that I know that you can be an artist and make a living from it in a vibrant art community like Minneapolis gives me inspiration too.
What’s your vision for your artistic practice within the next 5 years?
Right now I’m doing a lot of art shows which I really enjoy. I think it’s a really good thing to do as a young artist. They’re grueling hours, but you’re meeting people face-to-face, they’re touching your work, which is always a great thing. So I want to expand my ability to do a lot more art shows. I also want to open up a ceramics studio for the community to come in, hopefully in the next year or two. I want to have a store and a gallery in the front, teach classes, and have a nice open area.
Have a story of your own? Send us an email—we’d love to hear it.
And don’t forget to post your weekly updates on Latchet. We love seeing what you’re working on. Until next time!