A potter having deep roots in clay with creative vision

Ben Owen III began playing in clay as a small child. He was born into the American southern pottery tradition that has held strong in the Seagrove, North Carolina area since the mid 1700s, and carries the distinction of Best Craft Town in the USA, 2017.

First learning the techniques of his forefathers' craft by immersion and folk methods, Ben III grew to appreciate the finer points of art and culture while earning a BFA at East Carolina University (1993), complete with the top awards in the university's ceramics department and the school of art.

Study and travel abroad in Japan, China, Australia, and Europe have added to the extensive clay vernacular he acquired in the USA. Ben has garnered many awards and recognitions throughout this career including being named "NC Living Treasure", and starring in an annual public television special for 15 years.

His works decorate fine hotels and exquisite addresses, as well as a cancer center's healing garden and a US Veteran's memorial park. Ben's work can be found in Boston's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Salt Lake City's Grand America Hotel, and numerous Ritz Carlton Hotels including Tokyo, Japan. His work can be found at the Smithsonian Institution, Racine Art MMuseum in Wisconsin, Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, NC; Internationl Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe, NM, among others. Ben is a sought after speaker and workshop presenter.

Article in The Harvard Gazette about Ben Owen III

benowenpottery.com

Photo of Ben at wheel by Jerry Wolford