Jenna Weir is a Sioux Falls, South Dakota native, with a fine arts degree from Iowa State University.


In my short time of being an artist, so far I have found the most impacting connection with my clay work. With my other focus being in woodworking, there are times when I take for granted all of the malleable qualities of clay. It is a pure medium that may be easy to fix at some stages, while difficult to predict in the long run. The passion that I have for ceramics comes not only from the action of getting my hands dirty but also that there is a hand made quality to each of the pieces that no other medium can compare to- and finger prints to document it. The workings of clay are without a doubt a science. From kiln firing, to construction, to glazing there are numerous challenges and disappointments. However, it is the anticipation of surprise and flexibility, along with beauty that leads me to keep working in this impulsive medium.

While I choose to do the majority of my work on the pottery wheel, I do also often end up texturing and altering clay by hand in many pieces as well. I enjoy working in a sculptural way when possible but the wheel keeps my creative ideas flowing. Much of my inspiration comes from obvious actions around me. I tend to look at everyday elements of design such as balance and repetition and look for a way to address them in clay directly in an unrefined and seemingly natural way. I enjoy finding new ways to connect clay to the space it encompasses, such as draping it off of shelves or jutting sections of clay into the air. It is my goal to add an element of surprise in all my work, the same way that that clay adds into my life.