Artist: Justin Leavitt
Justin Leavitt, NEW YORK
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ARTIST BIO
Muddy Pyro Studio is run by Justin Leavitt, a functional porcelain potter working with crystalline glazes. After working towards a BFA Ceramics in the mid 2010's, they opted for a nine year hiatus from clay to explore alternative creative occupations ranging from goldsmith jewelry crafting to silk screen printing.
In 2023, they returned to their love of clay, utilizing porcelain for its unmatched purity, translucence, and brilliant color response from the unique crystalline glazes they love formulating. Each vessel is a blasphemously unique capture of contemporary life and tribute to an endless fascination for the universal balance of conscious life.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The current age presents an increasingly hostile world of humanity’s collective making, disconnecting further from natural roots in each misguided effort to overstimulate the senses with crossed fingers, pleading that subsequent efforts will satiate the dopamine monster and in turn shield the privileged from the uncertain and chaotic. Under the guise of Muddy Pyro, Justin Leavitt’s functional ceramics play into utilitarian and social revolution of the form and draw references of a natural world retaking control of a progressively toxic artificiality so dear to contemporary humanity.
Leavitt’s work embodies the complex symbiosis of natural and synthetic creation. Intricate forms and carefully crafted mixes of elements, all of which exist throughout known universe, aesthetically and functionally combine to portray sublime qualities of contemporary life: whole while altered; naturally synthetic; thriving yet dying. These utilitarian forms exhibit profound defiance while submissively obeying the natural laws of physics and functionality. They question notions of commonplace expectations, celebrate individualized conformity and scream unapologetically at the viewers senses, demanding
attention with the cheap reward of brute honesty that the Great Here and Now is real but everything's still on fire whether or not that's fine.
EXPERIENCE
2023-Present
Ceramic Artist, Muddy Pyro Studio, Silver Creek, NY
• Creating Functional Pottery using Wheel Thrown and Altering techniques
• Developing and testing ongoing variations of crystalline glaze recipes for optimal visual appeal, specific application and food safety/durability testing
• Firing in Electric Oxidation Kiln, including equipment maintenance and repair
• Testing new forms for optimal functionality and creative expression
• Continual practice with new assemblage methods including hand building, slip casting and variations in form alterations
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
• ICAN Callendar Contest: Drinking Vessels
o December 2024
• Mudflat Cup Show in Somerville, MA
o 2024; 2025. [3.28.24 - 4.13.24/3.14.25 - 4.12.25]
• Shapes of Influence Biennial Show at SSA in Springfield, IL; 2025 participant
o 3.28 - 4.26 [Teapot and Vase]
• Perceptions Exhibition participant at Silver City, NM 2025 Clay Fest
o July 3 - 20 2025 [Three Mugs]
• Function Focused Readership Contest. Featured in Ceramics Monthly Magazine
o September 2025 Issue
• 33rd Strictly Functional Pottery National in Lancaster, PA; 2025 participant
o September – November 2025
• Eighteenth Annual Cup Show: Form and Function. Gulf Coast State College,
Panama City, FL
o 11.14.25 - 12.5.25
• Yellow Springs Ceramics National 2025. Historic Yellow Springs, Chester Springs,
PA
o 12.5.25 - 12.14.25
• International Cup 2026. Clay Studio of Missoula; Missoula, MN
o 2.6.26 - 3.7.26
• Last Call XI. Companion Gallery; Humboldt, TN
o 3.6.26 -
• SIP: A Ceramic Cup Show 2026. Savannah, GA
o 4.10.26 - 4.25.26
• GEAUX CUPS VII. New Orleans, LA
o 4.10.26 - 5.15.26
2020-2022
Silk Screen Printer, Shift Supervisor, Ink Dept. Manager, New Buffalo Shirt Factory, Buffalo, NY
• Loading Automatic Printing Press with required Apparel/Material at rate of 850+/Hr
• Managing Ink levels in respective screens during printing process
• Install and properly align respective color screens to facilitate optimal image quality and duplicate customer design for entire order
• Manage Second Shift production of overflow orders to maintain deadline efficiency, perform necessary measures to ensure employee needs and expectations are met,
report problems and progress to upper management and/or customer per order needs
• Create apparel inks respectively matching pantone requests and application type per customer and printing needs
• Maintain clean and organized department of stored inks and materials
• Cooperate with fellow Supervisors to ensure proper ink color match, supply
sufficient quantities and/or alternative options as needed.
2015-2019
Gold Dept Manager, Lead Gold Jeweler, Jeweler/Designer, Warehouse Clerk, Shipping Clerk, Body Candy; Cybercartel Int., Amherst, NY
• Pack online orders selected from warehouse inventory
• Ship orders to respective customer, correct address and shipping method as
required
• Count and keep track of warehouse inventory and goods as needed
• Design new body jewelry to sell online
• Assemble various designs of body jewelry per order
• Manage Gold Dept inventory, employees and quality control of outgoing work
• Cooperate and report to upper management of dept needs
• Order required materials to create customer selected gold jewelry
• Solder, polish, stone set and create handmade Gold, Sterling Silver and Platinum body jewelry per online orders
EDUCATION
2010-2014 SUNY Fredonioa Fredonia, NY
BFA Ceramics Art Department requirements met
Focus in Wheel Thrown Functional Pottery using Stoneware
clay and Gas Reduction firing
Alternative Studio development in Sculpture, Book Binding,
Drawing, Art History and Installation/Performance Art
2006-2009 Roberts Wesleyan College, Rodchester, NY
GRAPHIC DESIGN Switched majors upon transferring during final year