Keith Hershberger Ceramics

Edition One Feature
Words by: Keith Hershberger
Location: Philadelphia, USA
Photo Credits: ©Julia Reynolds @julialreynolds, ©Keith Hershberger

I make wheel-thrown pottery that is created with care and meant to be used. I make each piece by hand, one at a time, mostly by myself. I do occasionally hire an assistant to help with parts of the production process, and also sporadically participate in collaborative projects with fellow potters. 

In school, we never talked about the business of being an artist, about how to support yourself by making the work that you love. Now, as a sole proprietor, I think of myself both as an artist and a businessperson. I have spent a lot of time developing a line of work that I’m proud of, that I love to make and that I’m able to sell. I also spend a lot of time marketing my work and cultivating relationships, contacts and clients. Lastly, I always make time to play, to try new things, to push out of my comfort zone and to fail, so that I’m always growing as an artist and so the work doesn’t get stale. 

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