The Bailey Collection Spotlight: Mary Barringer

Mary Barringer, a highly esteemed figure in the ceramics world, has been a studio artist since 1973, creating both sculptures and functional pottery. She earned her BA in art from Bennington College and apprenticed with Michael Frimkess. Her work has been showcased internationally, and she has taught at various universities, art schools, and craft centers, including Ohio University, Hartford Art School, Penland, and Anderson Ranch.

Beyond her studio practice, Barringer has contributed to the field through her writing and lectures on ceramics history. From 2004 to 2014, she was the editor of The Studio Potter journal, and she has since continued with freelance editing and writing. She currently resides and works in western Massachusetts.

Barringer's latest solo exhibition, ENOUGH, is on display at the Saratoga Clay Arts Center's Schacht Gallery now through September 28th, 2024.

From the SCAC Press Release:

After 50 years of working in clay, Mary Barringer is still grabbing our attention. Her works have depth; they are soft-spoken, but when they speak, they say a lot. Full of breath, thoughtfulness and nuance, at first glance the handbuilt works are seemingly quiet, but upon further inspection, there is a lot going on. You have to dive in to read the work – touch the highly textured yet soft surfaces, trace the minimal lines around the form, and examine closely to notice the many layers and varieties of color. This body of work seems to encapsulate a lifetime of love for the materiality and versatility of the medium.

About this body of work Mary states, “As I round the corner of fifty years working in clay, I find myself revisiting forms that have never grown old for me - in particular, the basin and the lidded jar. Mainstays of the vocabulary of pottery, they seem familiar yet gesture toward abstraction and mystery. In addition, it has been inspiring to imagine this work in a gallery space, where scale and volume, so flattened by our online lives, will be able to have their say.”

To see more of Mary Barringer's work and learn more about the artist, visit her website and follow her on Instagram!

Want to View The Bailey Collection? If you would like to view the hundreds of pieces on display in The Bailey Collection, appointments are available on Wednesdays & Thursdays between 10am and 2pm. Call us at 800-431-6067 to schedule a viewing!