about

Alexis Templeton is interested in both the creative and the technical challenges of making beautiful functional pieces in clay. Her work reveals her sensitivity to the natural world and also illustrates a deep technical understanding of glazing chemistry and techniques. “I enjoy throwing a form, and am fascinated by the alchemy of glazing,” she says. “But it’s important for me to create pieces I know people will use and enjoy every day.”

Alexis enjoys production work and sees it as a platform for creative expression. She develops and pursues ideas and techniques sequentially, a way of working that allows her to evolve and develop as an artist. She delves into a new approach, expands her range, then shifts to new ways of melding the natural, the technical, and the beautiful in her ceramic work.

A graduate of Memorial University (BA, BEd), Alexis gained her ceramics and design training through courses and workshops, beginning in 1988 when she studied with local potter Isabella St. John. She has also taken workshops from Sadishi Inuzuka, Ray Mackey, Peter Powning, Bruce Cochrane, Les Manning, Ron Roy, Gordon Hutchens, and Jack Sures.

Alexis attended her first Craft Fair in St. John’s in 1991, and started teaching pottery courses the same year. Her work has appeared in many Craft Council exhibitions. Notably, in 2010 Alexis won two Craft Council Awards for Excellence in Craft: the First for Innovation and Design, the second for Outstanding Achievement.

Alexis’ studio is a creative space to visit. She hosts many events through out the year, most notably two regularly scheduled Open House Events on the first weekend in December and the first weekend in May. The Open House Week-ends feature Alexis’ latest work and are an opportunity to “step behind the scenes” and learn more about the process.