Ryan McKerley has been a full-time studio potter since 1995. He makes contemporary functional stoneware and porcelain vessels, which are fired in a wood or soda kiln. Ryan has taught at the Laguna Gloria Art School in Austin and the Southwest School of Art and Craft in San Antonio. He continues to give workshops in schools across Texas and in his studio.

Artist Statement

Almost everything about the studio potter lifestyle appeals to me. The self-sufficiency, the accessibility and usefulness of the work, and the camaraderie of my peers all drew me to this way of life. The challenges of making, improving and surviving combine to make my world very interesting.
I have focused on producing vapor-glazed vessels for the past ten years. My forms consist of cups, bowls, plates, vases, jars and teapots. I see these straightforward objects as blank canvasses. Most of my time in the studio is now spent on decorating the surface of these forms.