Ray Gonzales

I work in clay. It’s always been clay for me. The tactile, visual and narrative qualities are what drew me in and have kept me focused since my beginnings on this humble and incredible material. The endless possibilities keep me riveted. The contemporary, the historic, the ancient and the cultural works in clay provide endless inspiration for me. I see myself in it.

My sculptures are narratives. Stories of my experiences as well as reflections of world events- both past and present, historical and personal. My ancestry and cultural traditions are paramount to me and oftentimes included in the works.

My wheelworks include both traditional and contemporary directions. Color, form, surface and scale are included in my process when creating these works. I am constantly exploring variations with clays, glazes, raw surfaces and multiple firing techniques using electric and gas fired kilns as well as Raku and primitive firings. Life is good.