about thomas wiggins

Born in Columbus, Ohio, I spent six years in the capital cities of Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogota, Colombia, just prior to attending Kent State University. It was in Northeast Ohio that I gravitated towards the Ceramics program under the tutelage of John Gill and Richard Hensley. Both of these Heads of Department fostered a community atmosphere that stressed discipline, intellectual rigor, and experimentation. 

Early studio production revolved around the red earthenware that tethered me to my time in the Andes, and the love of pre-Columbian ware, with its solid proportions, deft manipulation, and its often whimsical subject matter. Developing and refining a saggar firing technique eventually paid off when I was awarded grants from the NEA and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Since moving to St. Louis, my focus has been on developing functional ware in porcelain. Of particular interest are I have had the pleasure of being an instructor at Craft Alliance, teaching children and adults the joys of working with clay.