C'ville Arts Features: “From Mud to Magic” – Functional Pottery by Jann Ross

Date and Time

Tue, Sep 1, 2026 - Wed, Sep 30, 2026 10am - 6pm

Location

Details

As our featured artist for the month of September, local potter Jann Ross is bringing a fresh, colorful approach to functional art with a new line of expressive handcrafted pottery designed to bring warmth and joy to everyday living. Come meet the artist at her opening show on Friday, September 4th from 5-8pm during the Historic Downtown Mall’s First Friday event.

What began as a pre-retirement exploration has transformed into a full-fledged creative passion for Jann. After years of navigating high-demand management and leadership roles, she turned to the wheel to find balance and artistic expression. The tactile, grounding experience of working with raw clay (mud) quickly sparked a deep dedication to the craft, opening up an entirely new avenue for imagination and design.

"Working with clay provided an immediate sense of relief and creative freedom amid a demanding career," says Jann. "The organic nature of the material allows for endless experimentation, and that freedom is something I want people to feel when they hold each finished piece."

At the core of Jann’s work is a devotion to complex surface design. Each piece undergoes an intricate finishing process, where anywhere from two to eight distinct glazes are custom-mixed, matched, and layered before entering the kiln. The resulting chemical reactions during firing yield unexpected, vibrant surface effects, ensuring that every vessel, mug, and centerpiece is truly one of a kind.

"My goal with every firing is simple," adds Jann. "I want to create bright, engaging pieces that can be used and enjoyed daily, bringing an immediate smile to my clients' faces, and a touch of genuine delight to their homes."

See Jann’s full collection at C’ville Arts Cooperative Gallery, and follow her on Facebook (Jann Ross Pottery and Instagram (@jannrosspottery).