Zoë Powell Bio
Zoë Powell is an abstract sculptural ceramist who has dedicated her career to working with locally sourced clay and mineral resources. She graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2016 with dual degrees in Fine Art and Biology. Since then, she has had opportunities to work as an artist-in-residence at several programs around the United States and Taiwan. She is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and works from Studio Alluvium, a gallery and workspace she co-founded with her husband, Mitch Iburg.
Her practice involves building sculptural vessels made from clays and minerals she collects and processes herself. She views working with locally sourced materials as an exercise in sustainability and aims to take full responsibility for each material by honoring it throughout the production process. She is interested in botanical and developmental morphology and how certain forms can evoke a sense of comfort for an otherwise vulnerable viewer. Her current series focuses on such sanctuary spaces.
Her work has been featured in Dwell, American Craft, and Ceramics Monthly. In addition to private collections, her pieces have been exhibited in various settings across the United States, Europe, and Japan.