Rocky Lewycky-Biography

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Rocky Lewycky

Rocky Lewycky, born 1977 in the San Francisco Bay Area is a contemporary artist living and working in Aptos, California. He has been an adjunct professor at The University of South Carolina, Institute of American Indian Arts (I.A.I.A.), the Santa Fe Community College and Monterey Peninsula College, CA where he is currently a visiting professor. Rocky has enjoyed museum shows as well as solo gallery exhibits including fine art ceramics, contemporary sculpture and performance throughout the country.

‘Since 1995, my work in clay has been a reflection of both internal and physical beauties that nourish me. I am stimulated by my surrounding world and wish to capture these beauties in my work. “Wabi-Sabi” is a term that helps interlace my passion of life and clay. Both share an acceptance of transience. Clay itself is always aging, drying, shrinking and becoming something new. The opportunity to catch it at its most opportune moment is a joy that keeps me working in clay. Most of my objects in clay speak of time. How do I capture a sense of growth? And how do I make my work timeless? These are two questions that help to drive my artwork in clay.

My firing processes for the clay pieces are directed by the intention of each set or family of work. I use a high fire Shino technique that embraces the essence of landscape through the build up of trapped carbon in the glaze. I also use a Pit-Fire technique. After burring my work in sawdust, cow dung and different flashing materials (sea salt, seaweed and different oils) I allow all the materials to smolder down together and fuse as one finish. And finally I use a high fire reduction technique, which gives me great control over the glazes and surfaces. I use this technique when I feel the piece calls for a tighter or more minimal finish.’

- Rocky Lewycky