Meticulously sculpted and psychologically charged, Judd Schiffman’s ceramic wall works intermix life experiences, cultural references, and historical imagery to probe how narratives are shaped. Drawing with clay, Judd makes glazed porcelain and stoneware tableaus with lively figures, fauna, and flora—each of which are installed on the wall as respective parts of a whole composition. 

We visited Judd in his Rhode Island studio for a conversation on working with clay and the life experiences that are his source materials. Moving through the different stages of his process, Judd speaks about the nurturing, healing power of clay, and how becoming a father has inspired new parts of his practice to take shape.