The seeds of inspiration for my current work derive from 17th century Persian miniature paintings and 16th century Dutch still lives. These works display a peculiar balance of deep atmospheric space with an intense attention to minute detail, combinations so resolved that they need for nothing more. In making work, I’m curious about the spaces we inhabit, how we move through our environments, from the lens of domestic objects, architecture, design and daily routine. Familiar objects and their function are examined and reimagined through a loose sense of Scandinavian and mid-century modern sensibility, with a focus on the practical, architectural and essential elements. The results offer the comfort of the familiar with a sense of simplicity, reliability and no-frill timelessness.
Missy McCormick is an artist and art educator, based in Youngstown, OH. After graduating with her BFA in 3D/Ceramics she started her clay career as a production potter in North Georgia’s Appalachian Mountains. Missy received a MFA from the University of Florida and began exhibiting her work and teaching ceramics in a variety of different academic programs across North America.
After spending over 10 years working solely with soda and wood firing processes, Missy has transitioned her creative research to incorporate atmospheric results at low temperature, fuming terra sigillata surfaces on functional earthenware clay forms. This direction has inspired the use of a new pallet of color, surface, and decorative possibilities. Her inspiration for this shift was spurred by a visit to the Cleveland Museum of Art while teaching a summer course at the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2001, where she stumbled upon a collection of Persian miniature paintings. The intense detailed patterning, subtle value shifts of the backgrounds, and asymmetrical framing of the compositions continue to keep her intrigued.
Missy McCormick has been a resident artist at The International Ceramic Research Center- Guldagergaard in Denmark, Banff Center for the Arts in Alberta Canada, Women Studio Workshop in New York, and has taught ceramics in various positions at the following institutions: Youngstown State University, University of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Florida Atlantic University, Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Georgia Southern University. Other creative endeavors include starting a community ceramic art studio, Whistle Stop Clay Works, and co-founding the Loveland Farmers’ Market in Loveland, OH.
