Bio
Colby Allred was born in the woods of western Maine and grew up in the greater Portland region, leaving to study art at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. It was there that he discovered the tactility of clay and the various processes of firing ceramics. Surrounded by the geologic wonder that is Montana, Colby was able to experiment with many locally sourced materials to create his volumetric forms and sculpture. Being in such close proximity to the legendary Archie Bray Foundation of the Arts, he was exposed to and inspired by many world-renowned artists in the ceramic field during his formative years as an undergraduate.
Colby has since moved back East, most recently living and working on a farm in Rappahannock County. His current body of work was generously aided by the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community by way of the Mitchell Arts Fund Grant (2021).
Artist Statement
My work is greatly informed by the rural spaces I have lived in and traveled through. The natural, industrial, and cultural undertones of these places are echoed through my work and inform various decisions while I am making. The subtlety of these details can vary greatly, where at times the character of a place can drive me to create something quite representative, and at other times it shows itself more abstractly through vessels and pottery forms. I am inspired by the relationship between human and land, for better or for worse, and the form it takes across rural landscapes. The ceramic medium beautifully illustrates the essence of the land we inhabit and allows me the opportunity to explore a material connection with these places.
