Today's podcast introduces Peter Beard.

Peter first discovered clay as a kid, and that early fascination never really left him. While studying industrial and furniture design at Ravensbourne College of Art in London, he found himself spending more and more time in the ceramics department. After graduating, he helped set up a pottery in Scotland making domestic stoneware, and not long after, opened his own studio in Kent where sculpture became his main focus.

These days, Peter works from his studio in Leamington Spa, creating stoneware pieces that are both thrown and hand-built. He fires in oxidation to around 1280°C, building up layers of coloured clays and matte glazes, using wax resist and surface grinding to reveal these intricate, textured patterns underneath.

He’s also worked in bronze and stone, and has been exhibiting his work since the mid-70s, both in Britain and internationally. What I love most about Peter’s approach is how design precision meets quiet emotion. Each piece feels carefully considered but deeply human.

You can find his work on his website at https://peterbeard.co.uk/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/peterbeardceramics/

I’m excited to welcome Miae Kim—a London-based ceramic artist originally from South Korea. After a career in animation and VFX in L.A., she fell in love with clay at Glendale College and never looked back. Miae is known for two threads: sculptural pieces inspired by whales—symbols of wisdom and endurance—and work that blends Korean motifs and Hangul with Western aesthetics. She’s a 2024 London Potters award winner and a selected member of the Craft Potters Association.

You can find her work on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/miae_kim_ceramics/ and on her website here: https://www.miaekimceramics.com/

Today we’re stepping into the strange, beautiful world of Canadian sculptor David Altmejd. Born in Montreal in 1974 and now based in Los Angeles, David is obsessed with what makes a person a person—the body, yes, but also the mind, imagination, and whatever we mean by ‘soul.’ His figures often feel like they’re falling apart and coming together at the same time, opening little doorways into places beyond what we normally recognize.

What blows me away is his materials list: clay and foam next to mirror, quartz, resin, and even human and synthetic hair. He’s just as comfortable casting as he is building through intuitive, almost scavenger-style making—so every piece feels singular, even when it echoes another. Scale doesn’t scare him either: he brings the same intensity to a room-sized environment as he does to a small bust, packing surfaces with tiny inventions that reward long looking.

David has shown all over the world—most recently at the McMichael in Ontario—and he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale back in 2007. His work lives in major collections like the Whitney, the Guggenheim, MOCA Los Angeles, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

You can find his work on his Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/daltmejd/ and his website at https://www.davidaltmejd.net.

We’ve got an exciting show today talking with the wonderful Carol Long — a ceramic artist whose work blooms with the influence of plant and animal life. Infused with joy, whimsy, and a deep connection to nature, Carol’s intricate, organic forms reflect her Kansas farm roots and a lifelong curiosity for the beauty around her. Her pieces can be found in galleries and museums across the U.S., and she’s shared her artistry in workshops nationwide. From childhood experiments with mud to internationally recognized ceramic sculpture, Carol’s journey is one of imagination, craftsmanship, and an ever-evolving exploration of the natural world.

Her information can be found here https://www.carollongpottery.com/and her Instagram page can be found here https://www.instagram.com/carollongpottery/​

Today on the podcast, Bob Acton @bobacton is joined by Brooklyn-based ceramic artist Kyle Scott Lee @ceramicmeltdown. Known for his bold use of color, expressive brushwork, and inventive surface treatments, Kyle’s work bridges tradition and innovation. Over the past two decades, he’s developed a distinctive style combining classical vessel forms with vibrant, abstract design. His ceramics have been exhibited internationally, featured in major publications, and collected across the globe. Kyle is a founding member of BKLYN CLAY, teaches at GasworksNYC, and currently collaborates with brands like West Elm, bringing his dynamic vision to a wide audience.

Kyle can be found on his website here https://ceramicmeltdown.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ceramicmeltdown/

Today’s featured artist is Carmen D’Apollonio, sculptor who explores everything from abstraction to figuration in her ceramic practice. Self-taught in ceramics, Carmen creates sculptural lighting and vessels that fuse craftsmanship with functionality, often infused with humour. As she puts it, “My work is simple; it often gives way to humor. As if clay had its way of being, its own personality.”

Carmen began her creative career as an art director for short films and commercials in the 90s. She then worked alongside artist Urs Fischer for over a decade before launching her own fashion brand, Ikou Tschuss, in 2006, combining modern textiles with traditional artistry.

Since 2014, she’s been working out of her own studio in Los Angeles. Her process begins with sketching, then sculpting the clay form, allowing the piece to evolve along the way. Titles like “I Wish You Were Beautiful” and “Here Comes the Light” hint at her playful, open-ended approach to artmaking.

Today, Carmen continues to create from her Los Angeles studio, bringing clay to life with humour, honesty, and a touch of poetic storytelling.

You can find her work at her website here https://carmendapollonio.com/ and her Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/carmendapollonio

Join us on the Colour and Ceramics Podcast today as our host Bob Acton @bobacton strums up an exciting conversation with Vancouver's vibrant artist Suzy Birstein @suzy_birstein! Hold onto your mugs as we dive into Suzy's world of whimsical, figurative ceramic works and paintings. Ready for some artful chit-chat? Tune in! Check out her work at https://www.suzybirstein.com/

Join Bob, Jess, and Rob Sutherland, founders of Good Dirt Studio in Athens, Georgia—a dynamic ceramics space dedicated to creativity, community, and clay on today's podcast episode.

As artists and educators, Jess and Rob have cultivated a welcoming environment where students of all levels can explore the joy of working with their hands. Through their thoughtful teaching and community-focused approach, they’ve built more than just a studio—they’ve created a space for connection, curiosity, and artistic growth. Today on Colour and Ceramics, we talk about their journey, their philosophy on teaching, and how they’re shaping the clay community in Athens and beyond.

And, of course, their pottery and approach to ceramic art.

You can find their work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gooddirt_athens/ and on their website at https://www.gooddirt.net/

Bob Acton, the host of the Colour and Ceramics Podcast, shares his conversation with CJ Jilek.

CJ creates beautiful, colourful work that is inspired by the sensuality of nature. Her work explores the connection between botanical forms and human sexuality. By abstracting flower blooms and focusing on their reproductive elements, she invites viewers to engage with themes of beauty, desire, and attraction—drawing subconscious links between the natural world and human instinct..

Her work can be found on her Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/cjjilek/ and on her website at https://cjjilekartist.wordpress.com/

Welcome to today’s episode! In this conversation, Bob sits down with the incredibly talented Emily Stubbs to dive into her journey with clay—how it all began, the evolution of her stunning work, and some fascinating insights into the techniques she uses in her ceramics practice.

Emily’s work is both playful and refined, with a unique voice that really stands out in the world of contemporary ceramics.

You can check out her creations at emilystubbs.com and follow her studio life on Instagram @emilystubbsceramics.

Let’s get into it—enjoy the show!