On January 10–11, 2026, Baltimore Clayworks welcomed renowned ceramic artist, educator, and writer Peter Pinnell for a two-day Visiting Artist Workshop titled Tea, Teapots, Talking, and Making. The workshop offered participants an immersive, idea-driven exploration of the teapot—one of ceramics’ most beloved and challenging forms—through making, looking, talking, pouring, and, of course, drinking tea.
Rather than focusing on producing finished works, the workshop emphasized process, experimentation, and inquiry. Participants were encouraged to set aside the pressure of producing a “perfect” teapot and instead treat the weekend as a laboratory for ideas. Over two days, the rhythm shifted between lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, and hands-on making, allowing the workshop to evolve organically in response to the questions and curiosities that surfaced.
The studio was alive with conversation and activity as Pete guided participants through the practical and aesthetic considerations of teapot construction. Demonstrations unpacked the complexities of making bodies, spouts, lids, and handles—both on the wheel and through handbuilding techniques. Attendees worked with wet unfired teapot components alongside sketches and photographs, building a collection of references to revisit in their own studios.
In keeping with the workshop’s spirit, participants arrived with teapots in hand—some handmade, some collected—as well as books, images, and half-formed ideas they were willing to share. These objects became catalysts for discussion, prompting close looking and thoughtful dialogue about function, balance, history, and the subtle decisions that shape how a teapot pours, feels, and performs. Tea itself was central to the experience, grounding the conversations in use and ritual as much as form.
Ali Saunders, the 2024–26 Long-Term Resident Artist at Baltimore Clayworks, reflected on the depth of Pete’s knowledge and the practical insights gained over the weekend, sharing, “Pete was an expert on teapots and I learned a lot about making spouts” That sentiment echoed throughout the studio, as participants absorbed both technical guidance and broader ways of thinking about functional ceramics.
The workshop complemented Pete’s concurrent role as juror for Teapots XI, Baltimore Clayworks’ 11th biannual juried exhibition, on view January 10 – March 7, 2026. For many participants, engaging with Pete in the studio added a deeper layer of insight into the ideas and values shaping contemporary teapot-making today.
