We are delighted to welcome potter Randy Johnston, of River Falls, Wisconsin, into our fine art pottery family here at Pucker Gallery! Mr. Johnston is a talent who fits in comfortably and delightfully with our extensive pottery collection. A professor at the University of Wisconsin in River Falls, Mr. Johnston has studied with the late Tatsuzo Shimaoka at his compound in Mashiko, Japan and his wood-fired forms reflect this invaluable education.

Mr. Johnston combines the technical with the free-spirited, the architectural with the abstract. Years of work as a stonemason has influenced the vision and creation of his work: "Throwing on a slow, low-momentum wobbly wheel and an attraction for the… mark-making of the artist's hands to show on the clay has led me into an area of making that seems to reflect on Neolithic approaches to working and firing."

Randy Johnston's works are both highly personal and meant to be shared. Whether it be handprints or impressions of seashells from time spent in the kiln, these works bear signs of devotion and artistry that are respectful nods to Shimaoka-sensei, as well as unique signatures of this artist with whom we are excited to begin working.

We have recently received seven works to start our collection and we hope that you will visit soon to see these pieces. Three are presently installed in the main Gallery space.

We look forward to seeing this collection expand and hope that you, too, will enjoy the works as much as we do.