After graduating from Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s ceramics MFA program, Rich Brown plans to devote more time to his pottery business, Pottery 32, and would eventually like to create a school for fine arts. 

Rich Brown 
Degree: MFA, ceramics  
College: Tyler School of Art and Architecture 
Hometown: New York City 

Why I chose Temple: “I heard about Temple’s interdisciplinary practice, and I wanted to be well-rounded. And I got the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the world to do it: my professors and also other students who are really focused on what I’m focused on. When I’m working, I’m in isolation by myself in my studio. But now I have an entire cohort of undergraduate and graduate students, and we all have the same passion and desire to master ceramics.  

“I learned a new language about art in this program. It made me a better person because I can evaluate things differently and take a deeper dive. This program made me super introspective. I was introspective before, but now I go so much deeper than I did before. So there’s really all of you in the work, and it’s always been like that, but now, leaving here, I can explain that differently.” 
 
Transformative Temple moment: “How supportive my cohort and professors were when my mother passed away. Everybody encouraged me to take the time I needed to take care of myself. It was just such a family, community-orientated thing. I'm 50 and I’ve never had that, where somebody said ‘take the time you need.’ The professors gave me that grace and that space, and I’m forever grateful.” 
 
On working with clay: “Clay defeats me. All the time. I’ll never win. I’ll never make the right cup. Ever. And that’s the beauty of it. I’ll never master it, yet I’m chasing that dream. It’s addictive to chase what you believe is perfection. Somebody can look at one of my pieces and go, ‘oh, that’s perfect,’ and I might go, ‘I see the imperfection.’ I definitely believe that we have to constantly learn because once you stop, that’s not good for you.”  
 
What’s next: “Getting back to selling pottery full time. When I was in this graduate program, I didn’t want to make my traditional work because I didn't want to interfere with the thoughts that I had in terms of my graduate study. I left the pottery wheel, and I did a lot of interdisciplinary art, so my thesis show was basically vessels that look like ceramics, but they were actually made of textiles and fabrics.  
 
“I’d also like to start an art school that can set students on a career path using art skills. I have a master’s in education and leadership, and I’ve taught preschool and language arts and fine arts to middle schoolers in public, private and charter schools.” 
 
Learn more about Rich’s pottery business at pottery32.com or follow on Instagram at @pottery32.