Collection: Colleen Riley

Colleen Riley’s work is a reflection of her connection to the ever-changing rural environment surrounding her home studio in Eureka Township, Minnesota, 30 miles south of Minneapolis. Her pots celebrate the historic ceramic tradition of decorative botanical imagery by employing the patterns and textures of the Minnesota landscape—spring wildflowers, a carpet of decaying leaves in the woods, or the contours of a freshly plowed field. Early 20th century European objects and the strong lines of mid-century furnishings, prints, and textiles inspire her forms. Atmospheric firing gives a complex, aged quality to the clay’s surface, adding an element of surprise, which ensures that each piece is lively, unique, and inviting to the touch.