On Yassifying Sculptures and Displays with Joel Gaitan

Today on Clay in Color, we chat with Joel Gaitan. He creates personified earthenware vessels that mirror his friends, family, and himself while drawing from the ceramic language of early Mesoamerican ceramics. In our interview, we talk about how Gaitan found his way to ceramics and how he rethinks museological displays as a celebration. We also discuss growing up in a religious household, how he reconnects to his Nicaraguan heritage as a first-generation Miamian, and wanting to portray “big bodies” through his ceramics. Furthermore, he shares his thoughts on complex terms such as “Latinidad” and “pre-Columbian.”

Today’s episode is brought to you by the following sponsors:

AMACO Brent www.amaco.com

The Bray www.archiebray.org