debra steidel

Florida ceramist Debra Steidel makes elegant, multi-piece wall installations, inspired by organic shapes, textures and colors of the natural world.

Artist: Grew up in Alexandria, VA, near her uncles, Al and Billy Steidel, major art and antique collectors. When she visited, they would show her their collections of antique bottes and crocks. Her Uncle Al was especially supportive of her career as a ceramic artist, which in the mid-1980s became full time.

In 2003, Steidel moved to the Texas Hill Country outside of Austin, where she lived and worked for about 18 years. Steidel moved to St. Petersburg FL, in 2022.

Company/studio: Steidel Fine Art Porcelain. Steidel works in her home studio with help from her artist-husband and daughter.

In the beginning: Steidel’s fascination with ceramics started in 1974 when she bought her first potter’s wheel. She took a few workshops to get the “gist” of how it was done and read books at the library on how to glaze, make glaze and fire.

Six months after her first class, Steidel began selling her work at local art fairs in Northern Virginia.

“My work was not very good, but people bought it,” said Steidel. “But I worked my way up to the top art fairs in the country, including Cherry Creek Art Fair [Denver] and an American Craft Council show, to name a few.”

Art & materials: Art Nouveau-inspired art vessels up until about two years ago.

Now, she is focused on porcelain clay wall installations with a variety of glazes, especially “crystalline glazes” that have a sparkle no other glaze has.

Some pieces are layered or have pinched edges. Others come in soothing neutral color palettes or with a pop of “Bermuda Blue.” The lightweight, easy to hang, multi-piece wall installations range from a few hundred dollars to more than $30,000. An average installation is about $7,000.

One of her creations contained more than 80 pieces in different sizes and shapes.

Big break: Steidel was approached by International Corporate Art to create wall installations for the Royal Caribbean cruise ship “Icon of the Seas.”

“This opened quite a door to that world,” said Steidel. “My work is now on ‘Utopia of the Seas’ as well as in other public spaces.

“I am currently working on over 10 installations for the next big ship ‘Star of the Seas.’”

Process: Most work is hand thrown on the potter’s wheel, though she does quite a bit of “altering” of round pieces along with regular shapes. She also does some work with a slab roller, cutting out different shapes.

Must-have tools: Mudtools’ ribs.

Award/honor: “Best of Show” at the “The West Palm Beach Craft Fair.” 2016.

Where to buy: