With an early foundation in Graphic Art, Michele discovered pottery at the Fort Mason Art Center, San Francisco (or maybe pottery discovered her) in the late 80's.  While studying at the University of New Mexico, Michele fell in love with pottery and decided to make pottery her career.  Michele graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art from UNM in 1997.  Pottery is now a full time profession for Michele.

Her philosophy about making pots is appreciating the simple beauties put forth by Mother Earth.  Michele believes that beauty and art should be used every day. She sells her work at galleries such as Amapola Gallery (a cooperative of 40 artists) in Albuquerque’s Old Town, the Gallery Shop at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, Peppers Gallery in Magdalena and local arts and crafts fairs. Michele is a member of the New Mexico Potter’s Association.

Her pottery is wheel-thrown and/or hand-built and gas high-fired to 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit with the addition of apple wood fed into the kiln at certain intervals during the firing process.  She uses stoneware or porcelain clay and mixes all of her own glazes.  She digs one of her special glazes directly from the foothills of the Ortiz Mountains near Madrid, New Mexico where she lives completely off the utility grid creating 100% of her electricity from the sun and wind.

In her leaf motif, she fires leaves such as Japanese maple, lilac, tree of heaven, grape or whatever leaves she collects from her travels directly into the pots to create nature’s images.  She works with spirals and sun bursts to create a distinct New Mexico flavor. Sunflowers play an important role in many of her pots. Her play of glaze combinations is delightful.  One of her most recent additions to her repertoire are her soap dishes which when combined with her own hand-made soap make delightful gifts.

In collaboration with her husband, Grey, she throws “Dream Pots” into which he weaves dream catchers using copper, fine silver, or gold wire and includes a variety of stones. Mostly she just has fun making her pots and she invites you to share her fun by using and enjoying them yourself.

© Chisholm Pottery
Web Master: Michele Chisholm
Updated:  3 February 2007