CRAFTER of the MONTH!
CRAFTER of the MONTH!
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For July, 2026:
Wayne Bates (<-- website)
(Wayne Bates — Calloway Co.: Murray)
Wayne Bates is a renowned American studio potter best known for his mastery of the sgraffito technique on wheel-thrown porcelain. He has been recognized by the Kentucky Crafts History and Education Association as a "KCHEA Craft Luminary": a ceramic artist with a diverse background in art, craftsmanship, and mechanical skills. He also creates websites for artists!
Bates' career (see his résumé) includes teaching at the Philadelphia College of Art, where he also contributed to the Moravian Tile Works, and he later became a production potter in Kentucky. His work, primarily in English porcelain, emphasizes geometric patterns and carving, with a focus on creating functional, beautiful objects. Bates believes in the intimate connection between functional pottery and its users, considering his work a continually evolving process. His pieces, often bowls, platters, and vases, blend intellect and mechanical precision with aesthetic beauty.
Calloway County, Kentucky
Wayne BatesAddress: (Studio and Gallery 121)
8332 State Route 121 South
Murray Kentucky, 42071
8332 State Route 121 South
Murray Kentucky, 42071
Phone: 270-436-5610
Email: bates.wayne@gmail.com
Website: www.waynebates.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wayne.bates.7545
Wayne Bates' gorgeous work is based on transforming clay using wheel techniques, crafting his own engobes (decorating slips) and focusing on surface designs. His craft output has been recognized in galleries, permanent collections, and through many awards. He acknowledges that his art has made a positive impact on his life and his role in the art community. Much of this is revealed in the video captured by KCHEA in November of 2024, published to YouTube, and linked here...
As an accomplished studio potter, Wayne Bates creates many forms: plates, bowls, platters, vases, dinnerware sets, tiles, and covered jars. Some of these are pictured here:
Work Process: on Wayne Bates' website you can find a wonderful and very complete illustrated description of his main work processes: both the potter's-wheel forming of the main piece and also the sgraffito process, in which a colored layer of clay is cut through to expose an underneath color.
Below are just a very few lovely examples of Wayne Bates' finished projects (many of them previously sold!)... hundreds more can be viewed on his wonderful website!
You can further admire and appreciate the fabulous craftsmanship and artistry of Wayne Bates by viewing his extensive website, or by arranging a visit to his Studio and Gallery 121 about 8 miles southeast of Murray, Kentucky via a phone call or email.
Wayne Bates is truly a "Kentucky Craft Luminary!"
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