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T
he tactile qualities of the raw materials Alex Olson works with every day—primarily wood and clay – are as much a part of his creative process as his imagination.
“When I go into the studio, I don’t have set expectations. I have a general vision of what I want to create, and then I respond to shifting information as I work,” says Alex, who graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College with a BA in Studio Art. “It’s a kind of call and response—a dance with the material.” Alex designs wooden and ceramic bowls and vessels inspired by the natural world. Their forms are both organic and evocative, with the wooden pieces featuring knots, cracks, and natural edge characteristics of the wood, and the ceramic vessels reflecting hues and textures of soil and vegetation. For all of their beauty, many of his pieces are intentionally crafted to be utilized, integrated into people’s daily routines involving food and drink.
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Alex Olson ’14
“My art pieces are intended to be both beautiful and functional,” confirms Alex. “I’m interested in creating pieces that bridge the art-life divide.” Since 2013, Alex’s work has appeared in more than 15 exhibitions around the country. He is currently represented in three galleries: Seattle’s Kobo Gallery, Everett’s Schack Art Center, and the Rob Schouten Gallery in Langley, Washington. In 2018 he launched his art business, Alex Olson Arts LLC, and proceeded to not only create his artwork but document his artistic processes through imagery and video on his website and social media channels.
Woodworker, Potter, Visual Artist 03
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