Laura Aultman
Laura Aultman received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2003, concentrating in the ceramic arts. During her undergraduate career, she was a studio assistant for raku artist Steven Forbes-de Soule, who resides in Weaverville, North Carolina. During that time, she also received a research grant, which enabled her to complete an extensive undergraduate research project that focused on the crystal growth of zinc-silicate crystalline glazes. In 2003, Aultman presented her crystalline research findings at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Salt Lake City, Utah. After receiving her undergraduate degree, she was accepted into the graduate ceramic program at the University of Florida, Gainesville, under the tutelage of Linda Arbuckle and Nan Smith. She received her Master of Fine Arts in May 2006 and returned to the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she taught ceramics as an academic scholarly leave replacement.
Ms. Aultman has been an art instructor for Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, teaching at the Watauga and Caldwell campuses, since 2008. She teaches Ceramics, Two-Dimensional Design, Three-Dimensional Design, Art History Survey, Printmaking, and Art Appreciation. Her ceramic work has been shown in art shows throughout the southeastern United States and has been published in Crystalline Glazes 2nd ed by Diane Creber, and Lark Books’ 500 Plates and Chargers and 500 Prints on Clay.
The Story Behind The Work
“In a society driven by technology, immediacy, and economics, we often overlook the wonder and complexity of the natural world, particularly its smallest yet most essential elements. Growing up exploring the outdoors and collecting rocks, shells, and fossils fostered a lifelong fascination with natural specimens—their origins, environments, and processes of formation and preservation. Through this sense of curiosity and discovery, I create precious, vessel-oriented ceramic forms that evoke wonder and invite contemplation.
My wheel-thrown work and biomorphic, small-scale porcelain sculptures draw inspiration from microscopic organisms and natural structures. Using symmetry, pattern, repetition, and intricate surface details, they embody the intersections of science, nature, beauty, and mystery. Rather than imitating nature, these forms honor its complexity and imaginative potential. Pod-like and shell-like in character, they encourage viewers to look closely and explore beyond the surface.
The use of traditional and crystalline glazes harnesses the physical and chemical properties of ceramic materials to create luminous, unpredictable surface phenomena on the altered, carved, and slipped clay. While these processes can be guided, their final outcomes remain surprising—each kiln opening becomes an act of discovery. Through the integration of craft, science, and chance, my work reflects the possibilities of collaboration between humanity and nature, reminding us of our connection to the natural world and the systems that sustain us.”