Mark Hewitt is known for his large planters, storage jars and vases, fired with the traditional Southern alkaline glaze and salt glaze. He has exhibited in London, New York and Tokyo, as well as throughout the United States, and is well-represented in museum and private collections. Hewitt has received numerous awards. In both 2013 and 2014, he won Best In Show at the North Carolina Botanical Garden ‘Sculpture in the Garden’ exhibition. Hewitt was a finalist for the 2015 Balvenie Rare Craft Award for contributions to the maintenance and revival of traditional or rare craft techniques. In 2014 he was awarded a Voulkos Fellowship at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, Montana, for his outstanding contributions to the ceramic arts.urdain. His work can be found in the permanent collection of The Mint Museum, the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum International Folk Art, and Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Cynthia Bringle lives and works in Penland, North Carolina. Most known for her wheel-thrown pottery, she is also a painter and printmaker. Bringle represented the United States at the First American International Ceramic Symposium, which consisted of 25 artists from thirteen countries, and was hosted in the middle of 1973 at the Memphis Academy of Arts. She has taught nationwide and for many years at Penland School of Crafts. She is a fellow of the American Craft Council and a recipient of the North Carolina Award for Fine Art. Her work in the collection at The Mint Museum, Burlington Art Centre, and the High Museum of Art.

Travis Owens comes from a long line of potters. Owens was making pots at age 2. He is known for making traditional wares like those of his Owen/Owens ancestors, as well as early Jugtown shapes, particularly Asian-inspired vases where form and design are paramount. Owens has led workshops and given presentations at many museums and art centers throughout the United States, including The Mint Museum and the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Ibrahim Said was born into a family of potters in Egypt. Said is known for his elegant vases that are included in some prestigious Middle East collections, Ibrahim’s work is inspired by the ancient work of Egyptians—the strong lines and bold shapes—although his signature work embodies a lightness that comes from his silhouettes, small bases, and delicate finials.