Ann Fleming

Ann Fleming enjoyed being a successful full-time professional potter for over 25 years, specializing in highly-decorated functional ware and architectural work. Her sculptural tile, lighting and accessories can be seen in homes throughout the NW and beyond and her colorful functional ware drew loyal collectors.

In 2004, feeling the years of the physical demands of pottery and longing for change, Ann sculpted her first figurative piece in clay. Though sculptural elements have been strong throughout her career, there always had to be a practicality or utility to her work. And though this was the first time in a very long time that she felt that she was doing something totally non-functional, she soon realized that her new sculptural work did indeed have a function: it told stories.

Through the urging of friends, she had her first 3 pieces cast in a resin stone composite. Ann had her first five pieces taken to bronze in 2006. She is drawn to the beautiful permanence of bronze, so unlike clay or composite, and this will remain the material of choice for her. By the closing of 2008, the collection has 28 pieces in bronze

Ann is a lifelong resident of Oregon. She works in a studio at her home in the historical district of Willamette, where she lives with her son, Casey. She received her training and a Bachelor’s degree in art and teaching from Portland State University, and went on to earn her Master’s degree in the same fields from Lewis and Clark College. Ann taught full time after college but her studio work was a calling she could not ignore.

Ann is active in her professional community, having served as president of the Oregon Potter’s Association. She also served as chairman of the “OPA Showcase”, which is a nationally renowned and unique show featuring only artists who work in clay. She was a founding board member and the chair of “Art in the Pearl”, a premium Arts and Crafts event in Portland, Oregon and has remained on the board for over 14 years. Ann has taught at many levels with her last position at Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. She has also served on the board of Pacific NW Sculptors.

Artist’s Statement

“For many years I was a professional potter, a vessel maker whose focus was functional ceramics. The vessels that I make now hold stories... I sculpt narratives.

My work tells stories that are insightful, alive and universal. The stories that touch a deep place in me are about trust, strength, freedom, healing, motherhood, peace, risk and change. The stories also reflect myths of different cultures and the concerns of our times. These, our essential stories, are the well from which my imagery arises.

My work also reflects a lifelong joy of working with clay. I coil, paddle, shape and smooth, working with a practiced understanding of the material. It is as full of life for me as the stories that it tells. When I begin a new work I let my intuition guide me. I work from the base up, an inch at a time, shaping the sculpture’s subtle forms with an awareness of the minute changes that occur. I am often surprised and delighted by the shape each story brings on its own. The bronze captures the detail of the original clay model with a warm timeless beauty. Each bronze sculpture is a signed and numbered limited edition.

Joseph Campbell once said that the meaning of life is to experience life in all its richness. Our myths and stories help us understand that we are all story makers and that we share a connection of shared experiences. My bronze sculptures tell these, our myths and stories to help us understand and celebrate life’s journey.”

Ann’s work can be found in fine art galleries in Santa Fe NM, Portland OR, and other cities. For a location near you, contact us.