Thomas Connery is a ceramie artist whose work is deeply influenced by the landscapes and ecologies of his southwestern upbringing in Arizona. After receiving his MFA in ceramics from Indiana University Bloomington in 2023 he accepted an artist in residence opportunity in at Peninsula College where he now holds the position of ceramics coordinator and teaches ceramic and drawing classes.

“I make functional pottery and clay sculptures that begin as familiar pottery forms such as a bowl, cylinder, or plate. Starting with these mundane forms, I find a familiar sense of control that allows me to explore the ways in which I manipulate my language of clay. My commitment to pottery and its characteristies guide visual and structural components in my work, leading them to become an intersection between pottery and sculpture. I balance this exercise of control by firing in an atmospheric setting, allowing the fluidity of the flame to correlate within each piece. After moving to PA I have since built a wood fired rocket kiln where I fire most my work. This kiln leaves the smallest foot print of any firings I've ever done, allowing me to fire fast with as little fuel as possible."