Ben Carter is an artist, educator, and podcast producer based in New Jersey. He received his BFA from Appalachian State University and MFA from the University of Florida. His professional experience includes being an artist-in-residence at the Archie Bray Foundation Helena, MT and Anderson Ranch Arts Center Snowmass, CO, and the Education Director of the Pottery Workshop Shanghai, China. He has lectured and exhibited widely in the United States, Canada, China, Australia, and New Zealand.
In addition to his studio work he is the host of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast, where he interviews artists about their craft, creativity, and lifestyle and the executive producer of For Flux Sake. He has authored Mastering the Potter’s Wheel by Voyageur Press in 2016, The Complete Guide to Low Fire Glazes by Quarry Press in 2024, and was named Ceramic Artist of the Year in 2016 by Ceramics Monthly.
As a kid, I saw scraps of fabric be reborn as they were turned into vibrant quilts that were both practical and highly decorative. By blending floral motifs used in Appalachian quilting with the decorative language of historical ceramics, I work to create new hybrid patterns that enliven the surfaces of teapots, pitchers, and dinnerware. The forms are made from a rich terra cotta clay, which is covered in white slip before being decorated with underglaze and translucent glazes. Transforming earthenware through decoration elevates its status, giving the forms value and meaning.