Artist Information

Contact Information

jessica.zamachaj@gmail.com

Instagram handle: potsbyz

Artist Bio

Over the past two years I have found a guild of woodfire potters and have begun the wonderful learning experience of wood firing my work. It is a great experience to work with a group of like minded ceramicists and learn new things together. Along with wood firing, I enjoy pit-firing my work. Both firing techniques are focused on the additives in the fire and the nature of the fire and what happens as things burn and smolder changes the surface effects of the works in ways that are not possible with traditional glaze firing. It is also unpredictable in results, which is something else I love about these two firing methods.

I have been back to making more sculptural work in the past year, which I enjoy as an artist with a message and voice. My functional pottery keeps my production going as I spend much of the summer selling at craft fairs. That part of my work is where I test new ideas and use techniques from my 2 dimensional studies, like printmaking to enhance the surfaces. I also enjoy carving the surfaces of the functional wares to add texture which when glazed creates a multi-toned color effect which enhances the works and elevates their simple status to one that is more artistic and less craft.

We are finishing renovation on a new studio space at our home. Within this new space I will have the opportunity to explore more mediums again and it is my hope to create much more work.   

Exhibition/Festival History

• “Light” open juried call Kehler Liddell gallery (still waiting results)
• Milford Oyster Festival vendor August 2022
• New Haven Artwalk vendor May 2022
• “The Role of the Bowl” Collection of Wood Fired Potters The Painted Path Gallery, Woodbridge Ct March 2022
• Milford Oyster Festival vendor August 2021
• “Our DNA” open juried call Kehler Liddell Gallery, prize awarded, June 2021
• New Haven Artwalk vendor May 2021
• CWA member show New Britain Art League April 2021
• City wide open studios virtual exhibition October 2020
• Bruce Museum Outdoor Craft Festival, Greenwich May 16 and 17 2020-cancelled for COVID
• JCC Holiday Fair, Woodbridge Ct. December 8th 2019
• Milford Oyster Festival, August 17th 2019
• CWA 89th National Open Juried Exhibition July-September 2019
• Milford Artisan Market, May 11-12th 2019
• “20/20 2020 20” Open Juried Call Kehler Liddell Gallery, Westville Ct May 2019
• “Go” Juried Exhibition, Valley Arts Council February 2019
• Serta Artes Small Works November-December 2018
• City Wide Open studios alternative space weekend hosted by Artspace October 2018
• CWA 88th national open juried exhibition September 2018
• Clark Memorial Library, Bethany Ct May 2018
• City Wide open Studios Armory Weekend, New Haven Ct. October 2017
• CWA 87th National Open Juried Exhibition September 2017
• Orange Arts Council, Orange CT July 2017
• E Street Gallery, Derby CT Ongoing thru May 15th 2018 (closed the gallery)
• Art in the Windows, Carriage Barn Arts Center New Cannan May 2014
• Canton Artist Guild Open Juried Exhibition “Object Resonance Award” October 2013
• “Show for a Show” Artwell Gallery Torrington September 2013
• CT Academy of Fine Arts Open Juried Exhibition April 2013
• “Small Works” Carriage Barn Arts Center New Cannan November 2012
• “Arts in the Country” Easton Arts Council May 2012
• Orange Arts Council Two Person Exhibition December 2011
• Canton Artist Guild Open Juried Exhibition October 2011
• Canton Artist Guild Open Juried Exhibtion October 2010