Ceramics-Shoe research

Joanne Bedient

Jo Anne Bedient was born in SW Virginia and has emerged as one of Southwest Florida’s premier clay artists. She is best known for her ceramic shoes and blends realism with fantasy within her work.

Bedient attended Fort Hays State University and graduated with a degree in ceramics in 1977. Bedient didn’t like the idea of using a potter’s wheel and so instead built the shoes by hand. Furthermore, she later discovered that raku firing revolutionized her work. This is a Japanese technique which involves removing red-hot pieces from the kiln and placing them in combustible material. Smoke permeates the clay and glazes, creating crackle patterns along with luster and bold, rich colours.