In just a few years since earning her BFA from MICA, Maryland-based ceramist Dana Bechert has caused quite a stir among New York tastemakers. It’s only a matter of time before her reputation spreads abroad.
Bechert’s aesthetics and techniques are inspired by Native American ceramics and a passion for sustainable and socially minded practices. To make the one-of-a-kind Wacky Inlay Vase, Bechert sculpted English porcelain on a wheel and then selectively hand carved the wet surface. Next, she painted the entire piece in dark, thin slip. Finally, once the clay dried, she shaved back the dark coating to reveal the pattern beneath. The interior is glazed in gloss black. It’s signed by the artist and dated on the bottom.