"Take 5" with Earthworks Juror Lisa Orr

Lisa Orr's ceramics lushly blend historical, functional roots with organic, fluid forms that embrace gentle asymmetry. Inspired by nature and intuition, her richly textured and colorfully glazed slip-cast surfaces evoke birds on the wing, coral reefs, and blooming flowers, resulting in work that’s vibrant, emotional, and assured. As the juror of Lisa Orr of The Umbrella's 2026 Ceramics Biennial, Earthworks: Evolution, her diverse selections for this year's Biennail exhibition are sure to inspire wonder at how much New England ceramicists are accomplishing in the medium! Learn more on the Earthworks website.

Lisa "took five" with us to tell us about what's most exciting her most right now in the field of ceramics...

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What excites you most about your current body of work?
The never ending search for meaningful gesture of form.  Also several new glaze surfaces that are becoming incorporated in slowly to the more standard glazes.  Working on the feel of the handle— I think it’s getting better.

What aspect of the ceramic process inspires you the most (materials, making, firing, etc.)? Has this changed over time, and if so, how?
I love researching historic forms and what the mean, and then reinterpreting some of those concepts into my own efforts.  I was especially excited to get to go to Europe last summer and learn more about some of my favorite works from Roman times, especially the slip trailed drawings on Castor ware hunt cups that originated in the city of Cologne. Additionally, I am doing experimental firings such as reduction luster and high fire in the wood fired rocket kiln made of upcycled materials.

Are there any artists or trends in contemporary ceramics that you particularly admire?  
I am a big fan of Aaron Scythe of New Zealand— he mixes patches of different typles of clays and decoration in a very soft and expressive style with contrasting narrative vignettes applied virtuosically using traditional glazes.

I am especially fond of mobile ceramics projects such at PotsOnWheels!, the ClayMobile, etc. Those can make a huge difference in the lives of the people they touch.  My absolute favorite is the ArtStream Nomadic Gallery, an airstream trailer outfitted like a gallery that brings pottery to the people! Honestly I feel like so many of the style or movement trends that I used to treat like they were strict laws don’t apply anymore— and younger artists don’t recognize them at all— they just do what they wish with the absolute candy store of engobes and glazes available now. That said, I do believe that general rules apply regarding the depth of their inquiry, originality, or excellence of execution.  
 

What's your philosophy as a teacher of and ambassador for the ceramic art form?
Warren MacKenzie exorted those of us in the field that we must “Educate the public”. I took it to heart and am always delighted to share what I can to clients, students, colleagues, or just about anybody if the timing is right and if it is useful. As I continue to be a student of ceramics now in my fourth decade of clay practice, not only am I thrilled to work alongside others that are investigating the rocket kiln or other surface treatments, I am taking a glaze course from Pete Pinnell, but I am guiding others as best I can in my own studio or with online and workshop teaching. It is surprising to me that the younger generation might not have the same aesthetic root sources as my generation of ceramists, so I offer stories from my own mentors.
 

How does sustainability play into your work and philosophy in ceramics?
This is such an urgent and important matter.  I do what I can to be as efficient in the studio as possible with materials. Each month, I pay extra to power companies that are building wind turbines, as my firings require electric energy and I would love to see us move away from dirtier forms of power generation.  It was an honor to co-curate an environmental ceramics show that used a sophisticated software to reveal the carbon footprint of each piece in the show. Also, I have been working hard to refine and disseminate plans for an extremely efficient and accessible way to fire using upcycled materials called the rocket kiln, and I offer the plans for free on my website and a facebook page. As a permaculture enthusiast and designer, I am looking for more ways to foster natures cycles in my life as well as speak of these principles in my artwork, and follow them in my studio practice as much as possible.