Atlanta ceramic artist Stephanie Rosendorf makes richly textured porcelain sculptures inspired by the natural world.
Artist: Born and grew up in New Orleans. She graduated from the University of New Orleans. In late 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, she moved to Atlanta, where she worked in print and online publishing.
In 2008, Rosendorf started taking ceramics classes in Atlanta and workshops around the country. After the Covid pandemic disrupted her career, she enrolled in a graduate post-baccalaureate program in ceramics at the University of Massachusetts, which conveniently had an option to attend virtually. She graduated in May 2022.
Company/studio: Rosie Village Ceramics is based in Atlanta. The name comes from the artist’s surname which means “Village of Roses.”
For years, Rosendorf worked on ceramics while enrolled in classes at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. During the early months of the Covid pandemic, she bought a kiln, and with the help of her husband, converted their home garage into her studio, where she does most of her work.
Art & materials: Hand-made glazed and unglazed porcelain. Also free-standing and wall sculptures, plus bowls and vases. She occasionally adds natural fibers, like abaca or flax to the clay, to help strengthen the thin and delicate pieces during the building process.
Favorite tools:
- Her fingers and palms.
- A small thin wood tool that resembles a scalpel.
- A pastry dough roller for making small, paper-thin layers of porcelain.
What’s popular: Wall sculptures, especially small-to-mid-sized porcelain petalscapes. These dome-shaped wall pieces are covered in botanicals and fungi. Most hang directly on the wall. Others are mounted into wood frames ($175 to $750).
Other favorites: Porcelain “collages,” which are layers of thin, textured porcelain or botanicals often mounted into wood frames ($150 to $500).
Inspirations/influences:
- Forests, plants, fungi and
- Animals, oceanic life and the earth’s amazing landscape.
- Vintage botanical illustrations.
- Floral design and interior design, especially textiles and wallpaper.
Recent projects:
- Solo commission for a series of petalscapes.
- A collaboration with Georgia ceramic artist Julia Burns: a botanical-covered ceramic alligator sculpture for the October 2023 show at dk Contemporary Gallery in Marietta, GA.
What’s new:
- A series of ceramic wall sculptures that mimic textiles.
- A porcelain “wallpaper” installation.
Buy or commission:
- American Craft Council’s American Craft Made online pop-up Buy marketplace, Nov. 6-19. https://shop.craftcouncil.org.
- Rosievillage.com/shop. Nov. 25-Dec.16. For commissions, [email protected].
- Westside Market, Midtown Atlanta (westsidemarket.com)
Social:
- Instagram:@rosievillage
