Joe Frank McKee, Clay Artist

 Joe Frank

      Originally from Abilene, Texas, my fascination with clay began at McMurry University and flourished while obtaining an MFA degree from the University of North Texas in 1996.  Currently, I enjoy being a studio potter, participating in art festivals, and wholesaling pottery to other galleries around the country.  I create a wide range of work from functional and fumed pots to traditional Raku and Horsehair pottery.  My decorative lines are more creative and artistic, yet my functional pots keep me in touch with customers who enjoy using pottery on a daily basis. 

     Three highlights of my professional career are being accepted into the Southern Highland Craft Guild, getting published in Ceramics Monthly and organizing the Western North Carolina Pottery Festival for the past 15 years.

     I have found great joy in working with clay and it has evolved into more than just a fascination, but a livelihood that has led me to people and taken me to places that I will always cherish.