bio
Bailey Fritz is an emerging ceramicist from East Tennessee. After graduating with a degree in sustainability in 2022, they felt drawn to merging illustration and decoration techniques with functional pottery to create pieces inspired by their local environment. Their arts education has been self-directed through craft school work-exchanges, community classes, and hours spent practicing; their practice is fueled by community, ecology, and craft as a whole. They have participated in work-exchanges and assistantships at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Gatlinburg, TN), Penland School of Craft (Spruce Pine, NC), John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown, NC), and more. They just finished a year long atmospheric firing assistantship at the Oki Doki Studio (Germantown, NY).
statement
I strive to embody the warmth, resilience, and beauty of Southern Appalachian ecology in my work as a counter to environmental crisis and ecological grief. My focus on the natural world stems from a background in sustainability, and the imagery I use draws from Appalachian flora, fauna, folk art, and personal iconography.
I am drawn to the medium of ceramics in particular due to its utility and permanence as a counter to consumerism and excess. I believe that handmade craft represents a slower way of moving through the world, as those exposed to intentionally made items can begin to recognize the labor and care embedded in everyday objects. Handmade items can encourage a shift in perspective from disposability to longevity. At the core of my studies in sustainability was the fact that we already have the tools and knowledge to address the climate crisis, but what is needed to get us to the solution is a collective shift in mindset.
By celebrating and illustrating the interdependence of ecosystems and communities, my goal is to inspire empathy, comfort, and understanding through thoughtfully crafted utilitarian objects that reflect the importance of supporting one another and our surrounding environment. I hope to contribute to a perspective shift that prioritizes care and longevity over convenience and excess.
email baileynfritz@gmail.com
photo courtesy of Charlie Boss