Steve Blakely - I was born in Minnesota, raised in Utah, and lived most of my adult life on the east coast. After 30 years working in NYC my career in the film industry ended and it was time to re-evaluate my life. Perhaps kismet played a hand as on a snowy Christmas eve I was unexpectedly introduced to a potter who rekindled a forgotten desire from my younger days - to make pottery. I immediately began taking classes taught by John Fulwood in the historic Fulper/Stangl Pottery building in Flemington, NJ. I always felt it was serendipitous to be able to create my own ceramics surrounded by the huge old pottery kilns from the early 1900’s in that historic building.
My art pottery is influenced by aesthetics of the “Arts & Crafts Movement” (1880-1920) sometimes referred to as “Craftsman” or “Mission” styles. Potters from that era that have inspired me are Adelaide Alsop Robineau, William Grueby, George Ohr, Frederick Hurten Rhead, Artus & Anna Van Briggle and many others.
I moved to New Mexico in 2019 and very happy to be back in the west! Along the way here I was also a still photographer, VP of a motion picture laboratory, film archivist, mime, actor, street artist, antiques dealer and an avid vintage art pottery collector.
