Krista Willey is a ceramic artist from Georgia currently serving as a post-baccalaureate artist in residence at the University of Arkansas. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the University of North Georgia in May of 2024. Willey uses a mix of handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques to explore the intersection of women’s health and history with a focus on raising awareness around uterine and ovarian diseases. Rooted in a fusion of her personal narrative and advocacy, her practice amplifies voices that have been historically overlooked. Willey enjoys pushing the boundaries of clay and what it is traditionally thought to be able to withstand. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally including shows in China, London, and across the United States.
About
Statement
Strength and fragility seem so distant from one another, yet there are so many beautiful, intimate areas in which they find each other and combine into something beyond two simple words. My work explores the intersection of women’s health and history, with a focus on raising awareness around uterine and ovarian diseases, while remembering the rights that have been given and stripped away. Rooted in a fusion of my personal narrative and advocacy, my practice amplifies voices that have been historically overlooked. I am drawn to ceramics for its duality: fragile enough to shatter at a touch, yet durable enough to outlast its maker and withstand fire. This tension mirrors the resilience and vulnerability of women’s bodies and lives and is a juxtaposition that I always try to push and examine during my creative process. Through my work, I capture the moments where strength and fragility converge in both material and in womanhood and dive deeper into this complex and cherished connection.
