Paula Smith's functional and sculptural ceramics are an extension of a creative life that extends well beyond her studio. For Paula, everything is a creative act. Throughout her career she has had a strong focus on sculptural, narrative work – telling stories through the use of female imagery, including the torso, the archetypal house form, and the vessel. She is also interested in the use of Milagros, or miracles in Spanish, and their symbolism. These ideas are incorporated into her functional pottery, along with more organic references such as wood, leaves, flowers and animals. Her interpretation of these elements is full of whimsy, often playful in a Dr. Seuss kind of way.
Paula received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute, and a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of Illinois, Champaign. She currently lives in Rock Hill, SC and teaches ceramics at CPCC in Charlotte, NC.
