These collaborations come from a two month long residency during COVID-19 at the Reitz Ranch Center For Ceramic Arts with Virgil, part of an honors thesis for the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University, Andrew’s Alma Mater.

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate how Virgil’s refined and traditionally influenced ceramic style would fit into the contemporary atmospheric high-fired ceramics community in terms of style, construction, surface finish, and community reception. The goals of the first week were to build the largest sculpture Virgil had ever constructed with the intention for eventually firing it in the Reitz-agama, to produce a line of functional wares with Virgil’s iconic imagery, and to soda fire these wares and two smaller scale sculptures in order to introduce Virgil to an atmospheric firing. This two week thesis evolved into a two month residency, with 4 soda firings, 2 wood firings, and over 100 works produced.

Follow our work at https://www.virgilortiz.com/store/ASxVO-Collection-c63674019