About Oakdale Pottery
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Wetland ecosystems are, for many people, among the least desirable landscapes. Still, they are critical to processing natural and man-made waste. Apart from their role as habitat for countless migratory birds and other biodiversity, wetlands mitigate flooding, filter water, and recharge aquifers. My work focuses on wetlands because of the important ecosystem services they provide, and endeavors to bring attention to their beauty and critical role in our environment.
Each piece of Oakdale Pottery is hand-crafted, meticulously painted with oxide washes, and then glazed. I then load them all into the kiln and the rest of the process is largely out of my hands. The clay shrinks and moves as it transforms from clay to ceramic, and the glazes run just a little bit as they melt. The finished work feels completely new when I unload the kiln. In my pottery, I try to find a balance between a careful structure and fluid surface. I like to make cleanly crafted, neat work, but I also love the movement and personality of pinched pottery.
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About Jess Murphy
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Jess Murphy makes ceramic art for everyday use in the home, and operates under the business name Oakdale Pottery. She works in porcelain and stoneware clays, and through a combination of wheel-throwing and hand-pinching techniques.
Jess currently makes two distinct lines of work: the first uses cobalt oxide to interpret wetland imagery on porcelain pots in traditional blue and white style, her second line uses a handmade playful confetti glaze over thrown or hand-built work.
These two lines complement each other beautifully in both color and character. They also balance Jess’s studio rhythm: the blue-and-white pieces are incredibly time-intensive, while the confetti work offers a welcome creative breather. Though quicker to produce, each confetti piece is still crafted with intention and completely handmade in Jessica’s home studio.
Jess holds an MFA in Ceramics from SUNY New Paltz and a BS in Environmental Science from Allegheny College. She lives in Poughkeepsie with her husband and two sons and teaches ceramics at Dutchess Community College. Through Oakdale Pottery, she hopes her pieces become cherished companions—used, loved, and woven into the rhythms of daily life.
