BIO

Suzanne McKenzie Hawtrey began her ceramics career while studying art at the University of California Santa Barbara. Her ceramics instructor Sheldon Kaganoff introduced Suzanne to advanced glazing techniques and she has been fascinated by the intricacies of glaze formulas and design work on ceramics since the 1970s.

Suzanne was hired by Santa Barbara Ceramic Design in 1978, where she and several artists hand-painted production ware that was reminiscent of early American Art Pottery studios. Santa Barbara Ceramic Design, like Roseville, Rookwood, and Van Briggle Pottery, created works similar to Tiffany in shape and quality. SBCD wares were exhibited all over the United States in craft fairs, art galleries, and in private collections.

INSPIRATION

Influences of Suzanne’s pottery include the Art Noveau style and the Decorative Arts Movement at the turn of the 20th century, which used patterned motifs and intricate borders, as well as the Arts and Crafts Movement that originated in Britain. Suzanne considers her work utilitarian and decorative and finds inspiration in the local landscape of Santa Barbara and Hawaii.