What do Cobalt, Chromium and Tin have in common? That would be the
Artistry of Michael Cho! Although their presence as elements comes to
mind, his use of these basic elements in his artistic process is truly
unique and beautiful. How did Michael start this journey?
Michael Cho immigrated to the United States in 1971 from Seoul,
South Korea. He was a business major in college. During his college
experience, he elected to take several art and ceramics courses
After graduating in the early ‘80s, he started his own studio.
He began by experimenting with abstract shapes. He ended up
returning to traditional and classic forms because he felt that it was
true to who he was as an artist.
He also experimented with a variety of glazes. He found that the
contrast between a glossy glaze against a matte finish complemented his
vision. Michael throws his pieces without trimming to avoid shape
distortions and limitations.
Michael has been throwing pottery for 30+ years. He continues to
enjoy traveling around the country to exhibit his artwork and teach his
classes at The Banana Factory.
My pieces are individually designed and hand-thrown. No two pieces are exactly alike.
Each piece is allowed to dry completely after it's creation,
before being sprayed with oxides which produce their background finish
of matte metallic black.
Ornamental brush strokes are applied with high-gloss glazes as
the last step before firing. Each piece is fired in a kiln at
temperatures approaching 2300 degrees.
The materials used in each piece transform in this firing
process; the clay becomes stone-like, it's oxide finish acts as a thin
shell of metal, coating the piece. The brush-strokes decorating it's
surface acquire the properties of glass.
Care for your piece by washing it with dish soap and water; scrub
it's surface with any soft to medium bristled brush. Allow it to air
dry.
