Michael Buckley began working with clay at high school in Davenport, Iowa. Thanks to this experience, he decided to enter into a year-long pottery apprenticeship, before starting his undergraduate studies at the Kansas City Art Institute, and studying film at Columbia College, Chicago.
Having lived in France for 15 years, he returns to his initial practice of working with clay.
Michael is fascinated by the history of ceramics, and the reactions that occur between his glazes and the clay. He digs for wild clays and experiments with many kinds of firings in electric and gas kilns, in order to bring out at random the natural colors and textures of the material.
His work distinguishes itself by its pure, pared-down forms, and a continuing search for surfaces and textures.
Stoneware container with oak lid
Height with lid: 14cm
Diameter: 13 x 10,5cm
With “Pueblo”, Michael Buckley tells us a story of chemistry between stoneware and 100% natural enamels.
It is in the Orléanais, region where he settled, that the artist gleans the clay from which he makes his slip. This is then applied either with the pouring technique or with a brush on the stoneware before firing.
The result is there: this piece that one would think came out of an archeological excavation site is very modern.
It may contain food liquids.
Height: 13.5cm
Neck diameter: 6cm
Body diameter: 9cm