We are excited to announce that Levi Yankosky will be joining the Clay Coyote Emerging Artist Studio on September 1, 2016.
Levi, the middle son of two Air Force veterans, was born in Texas, and spent his formative years moving from base to base with his family. In 2004, Levi’s family settled in rural southeastern Minnesota. Levi went to Winona State University where he received a degree in Political Science and History.
After completing his degree, Levi followed his creative passion and took a position as a production potter for Dock 6 Pottery in Minneapolis. Levi credits Kerry Brooks the owner of Dock 6 for giving him an opportunity to throw after hours in her studio to practice his forms. He’s had, in Kerry’s words, “the fever” ever since.
In the last year, Levi has worked with area potters like Zac Spates, Johnne Law McMahan, and Ryan Ball to learn more about many different throwing, firing, and glazing techniques.
Levi, a self taught potter, has been exploring the connection between the history of clay arts and functional pottery in everyday life. Levi likes to use his own pottery as much as possible to see how the form and function behave in action.
Levi joins the Clay Coyote Emerging Artist Incubator with the goal of starting his own small pottery business. Levi shares, “I want to make pots that people will use. I want to meet the customers at art shows and see how they pick up and handle my mugs and bowls. I like the idea that my pots will be a part of their family history … serving favorite foods, stories shared over coffee, and someday passed down to next generations.”
When not behind the wheel throwing, Levi can be found behind a good nonfiction book, playing disc golf, or out at art shows networking with other potters.
Starting this September, Levi will be in the Studio as much as possible, he’s a bit of a workaholic and an early riser, so you might want to come see Levi in action before noon.
Levi’s work will be available for purchase in the Clay Coyote Gallery and online at www.claycoyote.com starting in September.
Follow Levi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leviyankoskypottery/
