Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanna Bowen.
Hi Hanna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I had my first ceramics class in my freshman year of high school. Funny enough, it was a second choice elective that effectively changed my whole life. I found myself being completely immersed when working with clay. Quickly falling in love with every facet. I continued making with clay throughout high school but when I got to college I thought to myself “Who gets a ceramics degree?”, and as it turns out, I do. I earned my BFA from the University of Utah in 2021. Now I am working in multiple pottery studios within the valley. I continue to build on my level of craftsmanship within my own practice while helping other heighten their own.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t call it smooth. Working in clay takes a lot of patience and letting go of expectation. There are multiple steps throughout the process of creating in clay that can make or break the piece, figuratively and literally. Days of work can be gone in seconds. It broke the perfectionism I have within my art and myself, although that still creeps back from time to time. Like many artists my career has been full of self doubt, failed attempts, and low return. I have found myself wondering if it’s really worth it. Time and time again without fail I end up at the same answer, of course it is. Clay can be unforgiving and ruthless but it has taught me to be resilient and strong in return. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful support system and amazing teachers that have helped me every step of the way. I am forever grateful to them. I am confident in myself and the work I create. I am looking forward to what I make next.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a ceramic artist. Recently I have been making utilitarian work inspired by flora, weather, and the female form. I have been focusing on form and surfacing techniques. I am creating a cohesive body of work for an upcoming market. I am excited about the work I have been making and I am looking forward to seeing the end product.
I am quite proud of the direction my work is headed and my ability and knowledge to be able to make a handful of mud into a piece of art. I am proud of my dedication to the craft.
Here is my artist statement for 2025:
“When I make work I tend to find myself lost with daydreams of romanized versions of myself. I am a florist in a small coastal town, living in a quaint cottage surrounded by evergreens. I am regal, living within a castle decorated with ornate wallpaper and gold molding. I am a naturalist living off the land and discovering life around me. I lean into the play that comes along with daydreaming and creating art. I have been exploring layering surfaces and repetition to create more depth within my work and make it as robust as my daydreams.”
What matters most to you? Why?
Creating. Being able to express myself in the way words cannot is priceless. The place I go when I am creating is like no other. It calms my mind and lulls me into state of total meditation. It is therapeutic to work through the problems that come up while making in clay and those that come up within my mind. After all that work, it feels amazing to come out the other side with something tangible.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies by piece.
- Commissions open.
- Art Haus Christmas Market! 12/13/25, 4pm-8pm
Contact Info:
- Website: https://handbornceramics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handbornceramics
