Oxide Pottery

Lynchburg, VA

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Oxide Pottery consists of the work of three artists: Chatham Monk, Justin Rice and Joe Monk. They work in a variety of styles of ceramics in their Virginia studio. Their latest work employs sgraffito techniques, meaning that they scratch designs into a layer of dark glaze, revealing the underlying clay color in a dramatic and effective way. These pieces are functional high-fire ceramics at home on a tabletop or with flowers.

While obtaining a Drawing degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art, Chatham Monk enjoyed working with varied media including ink, paint, charcoal, fabric and clay. After moving back to Virginia, she began working with paper patterns in her hand-built functional and decorative hand-built forms. You can now find Chatham behind the counter or in the studio developing new patterns and forms at Oxide Pottery.

Justin Rice earned his BFA degree in Drawing/Printmaking from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2005. After relocating to Richmond, Virginia- he began to hone the craft of throwing clay on the potter’s wheel. In 2009 he made the migration up the James River to Lynchburg with the opening of Oxide. Justin continues to create and show drawings and prints as well as produce functional pottery for the shop.

Joe Monk has been making pottery for 48 years. He received his MFA from Ohio University. Joe has exhibited artwork in many regional and national shows and craft fairs. He has also taught ceramics and sculpture for many years at Sweet Briar College in Amherst, Virginia. Joe Monk is a collector of the handmade object and is proud to offer Lynchburg a venue highlighting this passion.