December 03, 2014

CERAMICIST MORGAN PECK







Morgan Peck's home, growing up in the state of Washington in the US, was always filled with some sort of creative endeavour. Her father was a woodworker while her mother worked as a high school art teacher. When Morgan wasn’t sailing, she was making paper by hand, shaping pine needle baskets or drawing still lifes. By the time she went to college, Morgan wasn’t able to settle on one single area of study. Instead she got a taste of photography, printmaking, film history, welding and Russian literature. Post graduation, Morgan went on to study a two-month course in architecture too. But it was after she moved to LA that Megan enrolled in a ceramics class to help her reconnect with her creativity, and found a sweet spot. Morgan says she enjoys working with clay because she can work reasonably fast. She can create in multiples and doesn’t get too attached to any one particular object. 

“I feel like ceramics is the right thing for me to do right now,” she says. “I'm not sure I would call it a career, maybe making stuff is my career, or at least working with my hands. I first felt I was on the right path when I had my own business refinishing wood on boats. Watching something change and turn into something new, by the work my own hands, was one of the best feelings I have ever had.”

How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? My first job was a greeting card assembler, gluing paper heats with bows on cards. Since then I have worked as an art installer mostly.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Just keep going.

What’s your proudest career achievement? Working for myself. 

What’s been your best decision? Buying a kiln.


What are you passionate about? My garden.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Robyn, the Swedish pop singer.

What dream do you still want to fulfil? Buy a boat.

What are you reading? I listen to audio books in the studio. I listen to every Michael Connelly detective novel I can get my hands on.

images courtesy of morgan peck; portrait sherise lee of The Radder