Jim & Nancy Wright, Richmond, KY

Wright Pottery

functional pottery

Jim Wright has a B.F.A. degree in industrial design from the University of Illinois and an M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University. Nancy Wright taught art in Junior High and High School, and Jim taught in college for several years before they both ran the Wright Pottery business. 2003 marked the 30th year this couple has worked in clay making pottery. Nancy recently began to make ceramic jewelry to wear.

Using a stoneware recipe they have created, Jim throws pottery on the wheel. He then decorates the work with a technique called Sgrafitto, which involves cutting or scratching through an applied colored clay slip or engobe, to reveal the contrasting clay colors beneath. With precision and skill, Jim cuts floral and linear designs on his work and also creates candle lanterns with cut out designs removed in lace-like patterns. Wright Pottery is fired to cone 7.

Jim and Nancy’s work can be found at the Log House Gallery, Berea, KY; Completely Kentucky, Frankfort, KY; True Kentucky, Glendale, KY; Kentucky State Park gift shops; and Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, Berea, KY.