About the Artist
Marissa Childers is a ceramic artist residing in Oklahoma City, who creates functional and sculptural work that celebrates femininity and craft found within domestic spaces.
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She was born in Florence, Alabama where she earned her BFA from the University of North Alabama. Upon graduating she worked as a ceramic intern at Anderson Ranch Arts Center and soon after received her MFA from the University of Oklahoma.
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​Marissa has exhibited her work at numerous galleries across the country and has received various grants and awards to support her research, including support from the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition and the National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts. She was chosen as one of Ceramics Monthly’s Emerging Artists of 2022, was an Emerging Artist for NCECA in 2023, and was a long-term Artist in Residence at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in 2023/2024. She is currently an educator and studio technician at the University of Oklahoma.​
Meaning
Behind
The
Work
My work explores moments of connection and intimacy while celebrating femininity and craft found within domestic spaces. I believe pottery plays such an important role within our society. It has a way of enriching everyday objects with purpose and beauty. Whether I’m creating dishes to celebrate a meal or building a vessel that decorates a room, my work is made to honor and enhance the domestic spaces around us. I strive to make functional pieces that are elegant yet inviting to touch and can be easily woven into the lives of others.
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Various textures and patterns are used to evoke a sense of joy and comfort, while small hidden treasures are intended to draw you in a little closer. Whether my work is influenced by the pattern on my grandparent’s curtains or the woven threads on my favorite blanket, each piece is a little reminder of home.
As I reflect and process these small moments in time, it allows me a way to navigate old and new identities within my own narrative. My work not only allows me to pay homage to where I am from but also helps me understand the world around me and the place in which I belong as a woman and an artist.