Peggy Unkel is the newest addition to the gallery's artists. She creates a beautiful line of stoneware pottery featuring lidded jars, teapots, mugs, bowls and more! Peggy focuses on detail, and each piece is a work of art. The pottery is wheel thrown, and Peggy uses a variety of glazes and glazing techniques to make each piece unique.

Peggy claims it was an unplanned left turn on Wittenberg University's campus one day that landed her in the Art Department. What began as a major in chemistry ended as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and a career in design and marketing communications.

In the late 1990's a home renovation project immersed her in the world of clay. She had decided to include personally crafted tiles on her new kitchen walls. But one small hurdle preceded completion of this commitment:  how and where to make tiles. Her one college course in ceramics wasn't going to get her through this!

Peggy located a pottery studio in Glendale (Ohio) and registered for classes. With the tiles finished, she turned to wheel-throwing. It became addictive. This mud was both a creative and nerve-soothing outlet for her.

Later, she moved to classes and rented studio space in Hyde Park. Finally, in late 2003, she carved out space in her home for a studio that allows her to create her own schedule.

Peggy's current work is primarily functional pottery using mid-to-high fire stoneware. Some pieces are gas-fired in a reduction atmosphere; others are electric-filed in a neutral atmosphere. Glazes that "do something", such as run together or appear to have multiple layers, are particularly intriguing.

The need for creative growth keeps her testing new techniques, forms...and glaze developments -- seems her art and chemistry have come full circle.

Peggy is a member of Greater Cincinnati Clay Alliance and a resident of West Chester, Ohio.