Marissa Childers was born and raised in the small town of Florence, Alabama. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2019 from the University of North Alabama, worked as a ceramic intern at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and recently earned her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma. During her time at OU, she was awarded several scholarships as well as the Graduate Student Senate Research Grant, the Roberson Research and Creative Endeavors Grant, and the NCECA Graduate Fellowship. Marissa has exhibited her work at numerous galleries and museums across the United States, was published in the November 2020 issue of Ceramics Monthly and was recognized as one of Ceramics Monthly’s Emerging Artists of 2022. Marissa’s work explores moments of connection and intimacy while celebrating femininity and craft found within domestic spaces. She believes pottery plays an important role within our society as it has a way to enrich everyday objects with purpose and beauty. Whether she is creating a dish to celebrate a meal or adorning the wall to reminisce a small moment in time, her work is made to honor and enhance our daily rituals. She strives to make artwork that is elegant yet inviting to the touch and can be easily woven into the lives of others. Various textures and patterns are used throughout her work to evoke a sense of joy and comfort, while small hidden treasures are intended to draw the viewer in a little closer. Whether her work is influenced by the pattern on her grandparent’s curtains or the woven threads of a blanket, each piece is a little reminder of home. As she reflects upon and processes these small moments in time, she navigates old and new identities within her own narrative. Marissa’s work not only allows her to pay homage to where she is from but also helps her understand the world around her and the place in which she belongs as a woman and an artist.