Randy O’Brien began working with clay shortly after returning from a yearlong foreign exchange program in East Malaysia in 1980. A visit to the earthenware pottery studios in Kuching sparked what was to become a lifelong love for ceramics. He began his formal training at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1984 he moved to Santa Cruz, California to study with ceramic artist and educator Al Johnsen. Randy’s love for the wilderness and adventure led him to move to Alaska in the late 1980’s. He established a pottery studio in Homer creating and selling functional, stoneware pottery with glazes inspired by the glacial fields and mountains of Kachemak bay. He later returned to art school to study with Anne Currier and Val Cushing, earning his BFA at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1996. While a student at Alfred, he focused on the development of special effect, low fire glazes. His signature lichen glaze was perfected in the year 2000. Inspired by the mineral formations, mudflats and lichens of southern Arizona, he developed a three dimensional glaze surface that mimics the aesthetic of a naturally occurring material. This glaze is composed entirely of minerals, glass frit and metallic oxides.

Artist Statement: I find a lot of pleasure exploring the infinite possibilities in ceramics. Throughout my career I have done thousands of glaze tests. Melting different materials at different temperatures with different applications just for the anticipation of seeing the results. Through careful control, the beauty of these materials can be coaxed to resemble the texture and brilliance of mosses, lichens and mineral formations. My glazes take a step further from a 2 dimensional surface to a 3 dimensional surface. They add as much form to my work as does the clay. All my pieces are created with a love and passion for the process. My pieces are both wheel thrown and hand built. Although obviously man-made, my intent is to give the impression that they could be formed of the earth by natural processes. The surface treatment was developed through decades of glaze experimentation and study. The platelets and fissures are composed entirely of glaze - a glaze that is 3 dimensional. It blurs the boundary between a geological formation and a living organism.