ABOUT
Bex Pottery is run by Rebecca “Bex” Layson. Bex is a ceramic artist living and creating in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bex began taking ceramics classes in the fall of her senior year at Georgia State University. In May of 2017, Bex received her BFA in photography from GSU. By fall of 2017 Rebecca had joined the ceramics department at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center as a Resident Studio Assistant; a position she left in May of 2022. As an assistant, Bex received hands-on training on how to run and maintain a ceramics studio.
In Summer of 2019, Bex began teaching a teen wheel throwing camp at Callanwolde. This experience was an eye opening one which led Bex to becoming the Ceramics and 3D Foundations instructor at Atlanta Girls’ School in Fall of 2019. By fall of 2021, Darkroom Photography was included in Bex’s lineup of class offerings at Atlanta Girls’ School, thus adding running a black and white wet darkroom studio to her skillset.
In Fall of 2022, Bex began working towards her Master’s Degree at Kennesaw State University. While attending Kennesaw, she worked as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) from Fall 2022 through Summer 2023. While working as a GRA, Bex attended and presented at the SoTL Commons Conference in Savannah, Georgia hosted by Georgia Southern University in February 2023. Bex received her Master of Art in Art and Design with a concentration in Art Education in July of 2023.
At the end of May of 2024, Atlanta Girls’ School Closed its doors. Bex took this life altering event as an opportunity to focus on her art making practice. Since June of 2024, Bex has been making work full time in her home studio, showing work in local galleries, and popping up at events in both Atlanta and Rome, Georgia.
Bex creates her own work using a variety of ceramic techniques including wheel throwing, mold making, and hand building.
Artist Statement
Hey there! So, a lot of my work comes from grappling with the fact that, well… nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things. It might sound bleak, but honestly, I find it freeing in a way. Through my pottery, I lean into this feeling with humor and a bit of cheekiness. Whether it’s mugs that proudly say 'NONE OF THIS MATTERS' (because honestly, does it?) or sculptures of cacti with a little, um, extra personality, I love using my art to explore the absurdity of existence.
Fret not, Dear one, it’s not all existential dread! My functional pieces—cups, bowls, plates—are made to bring comfort and joy to everyday moments. I’m all about the details, like how a mug feels in your hand or the way that the glazes melt into each other. Using pottery is such an intimate experience, and I want people to feel that connection when they use my work. There’s something special about reaching for a mug or bowl that’s been made by hand, and I put my all into making each piece just right. Whether you’re sipping your morning coffee or having a cozy dinner, I want my ceramics to be a small source of comfort and happiness.
Now, let’s talk about the Cocktus pieces. Cacti are great, but why stop there when you can have a little fun with the concept? Enter the 'Cocktus'—part cactus, part cheeky humor. This series plays with the visual and word pun of prickly plants and, well, something else a little prickly! Each Cocktus is carefully crafted, placed dElicately into its pot, and then filled with glazed 'pebbles' to complete the look. The process is as playful as the result, and honestly, they make me laugh every time. I love how something that could easily be seen as crude ends up being a fun, whimsical piece of art that catches people off guard in the Very best way.
Then there’s my word mugs. Everyone loves a mug that says something about them, but I figured, why stop at polite puns or safe-for-work slogans? My word mugs ditch the filters and go all-in on the irreverent humor. These are for the people who don’t mind showing a little sass with their morning coffee. Whether it’s a mug that drops an f-bomb or something a little more creative, I’m here for letting people express themselves in ways that are as bold as they want to be.
At the end of the day, I hope my work makes people laugh, think, and feel a little more connected to the weirdness of it all. Life may be absurd, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the ride!
Artist CV
EDUCATION
2023 Master of Art in Art & Design, Concentration in Art Education, School of Art and Design, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Concentration in Photography, Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
2023
Positively Neutral: A Master of Art Thesis Exhibition, Echo Contemporary Art, Atlanta, Ga
2022
Shine, Echo Contemporary Art, Atlanta, Ga
2021
Solo Exhibition, MINT Gallery, Atlanta, Ga
2020
“Meet Rebecca Layson | Ceramic Artist & Teacher”, Shoutout Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
FILLED UP: A Ceramic Cup Show, New Harmony Clay Project, New Harmony, Indiana
MerriMINT: Multiples, MINT Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Sip: A Ceramic Cup Show, Savannah Clay Community, Savannah, GA
2019
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Holiday Pottery Show and Sale, Atlanta, GA
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Spring Pottery Show and Sale, Atlanta, GA
2018
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Holiday Pottery Show and Sale, Atlanta, GA
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Spring Pottery Show and Sale, Atlanta, GA
2017
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Holiday Pottery Show and Sale, Atlanta, GA
Bachelor of Fine Arts Exit Show, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
The Cup Show, The Hudgens Center, Duluth, GA
2014
Post Card Pinup Show, Mint Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2012
Old Red Kimono, Georgia Highlands College, Rome, GA
2011
Old Red Kimono, Georgia Highlands College, Rome, GA
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
2023 Teaching and Learning in Art and Design: Results and Reflections on Two SoTL Projects Within a New Master of Art, SoTL Commons Conference, Atlanta, GA
2018 Live Pottery Demonstration, Atlanta Craft Show, Atlanta, GA
2012 Artist Talk, Old Red Kimono, Georgia Highlands College, Rome, GA