About

I’m Charles Talbot, a visual artist and ceramicist based in New England. My practice moves between functional pottery, sculptural clay work, and painting. I am grounded in a long engagement with material, form, and the histories that shape both. I’ve always been drawn to the way clay holds memory—of the hand, of process, of tradition—and much of my work explores how objects can carry personal and cultural lineage in quiet, tactile ways.

My background spans both studio art and craft education. I received my MFA in Ceramics from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where I also worked closely with artist-in-residence Anders Ruhwald as a studio and curatorial assistant. Before that, I held a formative apprenticeship with the studio artist Toshiko Takaezu. Working alongside Takaezu from 2008 to 2011 shaped my understanding of the studio as a place of rigor, generosity, and deep attention—values that remain central to my work today.

I’ve taught and supported ceramic programs at Harvard University, serving as both an instructor and studio help, mentored students, and helped assist a community of makers. My exhibition history includes shows at venues such as the Kathryn Schultz Gallery in Cambridge, Haw Contemporary during NCECA in Kansas City, Brittany Gallery in Vallejo, CA, and Gallery 224 at Harvard University, among others. These experiences, along with years of studio practice, have guided the evolution of my work toward a balance of utility and narrative, precision and improvisation.

In my ceramics studio, I create functional ware in small batches—pots meant to be handled, lived with, and absorbed into daily rituals—as well as one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces that explore abstraction, origin stories, and the weight of inherited histories. I’m committed to making objects that feel grounded and intentional, built slowly and with attention to material presence.

I’m always open to conversations, collaborations, and connections. If you have thoughts about the work or just want to reach out, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.

—Charles