Instructor Highlight: Alex Maldonado
/Rain City Clay is lucky to be staffed by a group of dedicated ceramicists who work diligently to keep the studio running, who teach with passion and exuberance, and engage and build community through clay. In addition to all that they do at RCC, they also have their own clay practices, either at RCC or off-site, where they make their own work and grow their skills. Each month we will be featuring one of our fantastic staff members and their talents.
This month we are highlighting instructor Alex Maldonado (they/them)! Alex is currently teaching a wheel throwing class with a special focus on surface development.
Alex’s Bio:
Alex Maldonado
Alex is a Texas-born ceramic artist currently residing in Seattle, Washington. Their journey in clay began in 2021, as they were deep in the throes of COVID and looking for something to take the edge off. After a major life event, they began picking up part-time work at the same studio where they began their clay journey, setting off a chain of events that brought them here to Seattle, where they teach and have worked as a studio tech at several studios around town. When they’re not in the studio, you can usually find Alex riding their ebike around town or experimenting in the kitchen.
“I primarily make wheel-thrown functional ware with an emphasis on texture that is visually engaging as well as tactile, often using wax resist to create patterns on top of marbled clay. I’ve recently been experimenting with soda firing, which adds an element of unpredictability to my work. Though I cover a wide range of aesthetics across my body of work, the one thing they all have in common is that form, function, and texture remain at the forefront of my pieces.”
Get to know Alex!
What is your favorite part of the clay process?
This is a HOT take but I love trimming! It is just so fun. I know most will disagree…
What are your inspirations / influences when making work?
I like to work within the constraints of function, while making work that lets every material have its forward moment in my surface design. I mostly get my inspiration by looking at the world around me. Items exist within their environment, so I try to take note of things that catch my attention in everyday life and keep those feelings close to me as I make design choices.
What are you looking forward to about teaching at RCC?
I’m really excited to meet and connect with all of my students and members of the community at RCC. The people are my favorite part of teaching, so I always look forward to getting to work with new groups and in new studios!
What is your favorite clay tool?
I love my Kemper KSP4s. They’re a double sided trimming tool, with a medium size triangular side and a round side. I like to keep my worn ones to trim wetter pieces as they are good at smoothing grog back into the piece.
What valuable lessons have you learned along your artistic journey that you wish you knew when you first began?
I wish that when I started, I understood that being out in the world and allowing yourself to be encountered by people was part of being successful as an artist, and not irrelevant or fraught. I also think as I have dialed into my aesthetic more, I have been choosier about where I sell my work.
What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago?
Some people hit their stride later than others, and that is fine! You will bloom when you are ready.
What's next for you? Shows? Markets? Etc?
Who knows what’s next for me. I have some markets coming up, but I also plan on taking the rest of this year to be a little more experimental and refine some ideas I’m really excited about. Either way, you all will definitely be seeing me around.
