PO Box 232
Marlboro, Vermont 05344
(802) 254.8057
mat@matthewtellpottery.com
MatthewTellPottery.com

Matthew Tell fi rst began working with clay in 1976, his senior year in high school. He was immediately drawn to the wonderful quality of clay — its plasticity, making it only limited by the imagination. Many years later, Matt spends his day in his studio in Marlboro, working with clay: throwing, trimming, glazing, and fi ring. He studied ceramics with Malcom Wright and Michael Boylen at Marlboro College. In 1983, with seven other potters, he started the Brattleboro Clayworks, a pottery collective. Matthew moved his studio to its present location in Marlboro in 1988, where he can look out his window and see the Green Mountains of Vermont that he admits have influenced his work. “This is refl ective in the earth tone glaze overlays and suggestive landscapes I use to decorate my pots.” A recent trip to Alaska has further opened more possibilities as to colors, forms, textures and glazes.

In 1993, Matthew realized his goal of designing and building a wood kiln. The qualities unique to the wood fi red process results from the complex dynamics involving the maker’s endeavor, the material properties, and the “life of the fire.” Other firing techniques involve just the heat from the fuel; wood firing uses the fire itself, the ash deposits, and the gasses produced from the fi re. It is the awesome power of the fire that alters and enhances the pieces in the kiln. “I like improvising, letting the process determine the outcome. Wood fi ring fulfi lls this need because each fi ring is different and full of unintended surprises.”

Recently, Matthew added onto his studio, nearly doubling the space. There is now added gallery space, and for Matt, plenty of room to create. Matt’s new work includes a process he calls “chattering” which adds a rhythmic texture to his pieces.

RESUME
BA in Ceramics and Art History, Marlboro College 1976 -1981
Studied with Malcolm Wright and Michael Boylen
Apprentice: Holly Stott Pottery, Hadley MA 1982
Original member of the Brattleboro Clayworks, a collective studio and
nonprofi t corporation 1983 -1990
Built studio at home in Marlboro, VT 1989 -1990
Designed and built wood kiln - 1994
Best in Ceramics - Living with Crafts Exhibit, Sunapee Craft Show- 2003

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Mountain Imagery - 2002
Table Top at City Woods Gallery - 2001
Preferred Seating - 2000, 1994
“Spout it Out” Teapot Show - 1997
Ubiquitous Bowl Show - 1996
The Secret Garden - 1995
Big Pots - 1995
Living with Crafts - 1995, 1996,1997, 1998, 2000, 2001
The First Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National Exhibit - 1993