Chandelle Anderson is a multidisciplinary artist working with clay, sculpture, and oil painting as her primary forms of expression. Born in Huron, SD, she earned degrees in studio art and psychology from Mankato State University in 2005, followed by a 2 year apprenticeship with sculptor and painter Sabah Al-Dhaher in Seattle, WA. She continued her studies in painting at the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle and in ceramics with Adrian Arleo at La Meridiana Ceramic School in Certaldo, Italy. 

Creative experimentation around themes of the psyche and philosophy have shaped much of her life. She has professionally explored a variety of mediums over the past 20 years, including documentary photography, public art, furniture design, and fiber arts. In 2020, she turned her focus to ceramics, developing a contemporary range of functional tableware and sculptural vessels for private collection and several James Beard nominated restaurants. Along with her creative work, her interest in diverse cultures and humanitarianism led to international travel and volunteer work in India, Central America, Mexico, and Europe. These experiences, coupled with a deep connection to nature, are the foundation from which she draws inspiration, centered around an investigation into our interconnectedness and our relationship to the natural world. 

Chandelle’s work has an emphasis on form with a subdued color palette. In both her paintings and ceramics, color is applied in several thin layers to create an atmospheric effect, capturing subtle shifts in wavelengths of light inspired by the soft transitions of the sky at dusk and dawn. Her work evokes a calm presence, leaving space for the viewer to interact and contemplate. She currently teaches ceramics and works independently from her studio on Orcas Island. 

Process

Chandelle’s pieces are thrown on the wheel with stoneware or porcelain. She is inspired by minimalist Scandinavian and Japanese design, with an emphasis on simplicity of form and functionality. Her work is then finished with several layers of custom made glazes and fired in a gas kiln with a light reduction atmosphere. Subtle variations in form, glaze, and atmosphere, make each piece truly one of a kind.

Reflections on Clay

“The process of making pottery has the capacity to be one of life’s greatest teachers. Throwing on the wheel requires a balance of control with submission, while accepting the material characteristics of clay and the physical forces which affect its shape and form. It can take months before a piece is completed from start to finish, and after many long hours of work and planning, the final stage of the process is surrendered to the kiln, where fire and oxygen will ultimately determine the finished product. Because of this, every firing turns out differently, sometimes with disappointments but always with wonder at the transformation that occurs when heat is applied to raw elements. Through this journey, I’ve gained considerable patience, acceptance, and continual wonder.

Ceramic pots take time and great care. It still amazes me that a solid and functional object can be created from something that was once just dust and water, a practice which is both an ancient and universal aspect of human civilization. They are a daily reminder that anything worth doing in life requires trusting the process and accepting that so much of what is determined in life is out of our control.

I strive to make humble, quiet pottery that is functional yet beautiful. It is my hope that these pieces will live with their owner daily, beside them with their morning coffee or at a dinner table surrounded by friends and family. The process has brought me a greater sense of peace, humility, and gratitude, which I hope to pass on through my work.”