Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Roese Frazier
Hi Madison, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I first touched clay in college. I went to a Liberal Arts school that allowed me to explore my underlying creative bent in a number of ways – through painting, architecture, natural dye, and ceramics.
Although I loved clay, I didn’t see it as a serious pursuit for myself. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and found throwing on the wheel frustrating, since I felt like I could never quite be perfect enough. I ended up studying developmental psychology, moved to Austin, and began working at a shelter for recently arrived immigrants. As an AmeriCorps Fellow, I couldn’t afford studio space, so despite my desire to keep working with clay, ceramics took the back burner for a few years. Fast forward to 2021, I found myself working on the sexual assault team at a local nonprofit. I was experiencing a lot of burnout, and that’s when I got back into clay.
I found myself at the East Side Pot Shop, where I began building on the baseline I had from college. When I came back to clay, I began hand building, which is inherently less ‘perfect’ than throwing – more freeform. I would look at pieces I loved and try to figure out how to make a similar form, teaching myself as I went. I started with coil building, and then began working with molds, slabs, and eventually pinching as I got better.
Some friends at the time had started a local art and music showcase, PietchHouse. Their first event was the Austin Studio Tour, where they invited me to be a vendor and show my ceramics. At the time I didn’t think of myself as an artist, but I had run out of storage space and definitely had a lot of pots I needed to get rid of. I ended up selling quite a bit at that market, mostly to friends and family, but also to a few strangers. Which felt surprising and encouraging. I began vending at other markets around town and built a website to sell my work online. With support from the Austin community, friends, and family, TOV/RA has grown from there. Now, three years later, I finally have the courage to call myself an artist.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Although I love working with clay, I never intended to run a small business. From the small details (like figuring out sales tax nexus) to the big things (like branding and marketing myself), I didn’t know anything about running a business. I also tend to shy away from personal attention and try to avoid screen-time. Unfortunately, these days self-promotion through social media is a big part of marketing – especially as an artist. That leaves me stuck between what feels best for me as an individual and what is best for TOV/RA.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work gravitates towards free-form vases and other large vessels. I work at the intersection of forms that are interesting enough to stand alone as sculptural pieces but also serve practical uses. I hand build everything using a combination of coil, slab, and pinching using mostly stoneware clays made here in Austin at Armadillo Clay. I lean towards glazes that are simple earth tones. Because I hand build and fire in community kilns, no two pieces are ever completely alike.
I often draw inspiration from organic forms found in nature, but also like to push myself to explore new shapes. Right now I am making large, hollow, stone-like bowls, which present a whole new structural challenge. Each piece takes weeks, and the first three I made all cracked before I finally figured out the form.
I am most proud of the community that has formed around me. Ceramics has introduced me to wonderful, inspiring people across my studio families at Austin Pottery and East Side Post Shop to the Wood-Fire crew at Eye of the Dog arts center. In 2021 I got back into clay expecting to find solace in the making process, and ended up also finding comfort in the relationships I formed.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Over the past year, I have focused on commissions and collaborations with interior designers. I currently have pieces featured at Cafe No Se in the South Congress Hotel and Colony in New York City. I’m most excited about opportunities to work with other designers, curators, and creative professionals to expand the reach and creative direction of my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tovraceramics.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tovraceramics/
Image Credits
Madison Roese Frazier
