Gail Markiewicz

"My inclination to be an artist began at a very early age. I was in fourth grade when I decided that was what I would be when I grew up! Throughout the years, I never deviated, and my conviction grew stronger as my desire to create art became an inner calling. For me, there is no choice: I get up in the morning and look forward to immersing myself in the creative process. "

Markiewicz discovered clay about 30 years ago. From that moment on, she fell in love with the medium. She has often said that her biggest love was the way she could manipulate the clay with textures and carvings. She combines textures and carvings into a patchwork clay quilt and makes it into a sculptural form—an invitation to caress.

Each piece takes several weeks to make due to the artist's multi-step process. First, Markiewicz must roll out pieces of clay and imprint textures into each individual piece. These are then "stitched" together with clay slip so that they begin to form a "quilt." Finally, she shapes the parts into a sculptural vessel. Many colorful glazes are applied at different firings.

Markiewicz received her master's degree in art from the University of Southern Connecticut. By that time, she had developed a sophisticated series of huge sculptures, so she was given her own studio to pursue this interest. She later attended Penland School of Crafts, where she fell in love with clay. Her art is the result of years of expression that is self-taught.