Pamela Nagley Stevenson was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and majored in ceramic studies at the University of Hawaii, the University of Victoria and the Banff Centre for the Arts. She has been a studio potter in the mountainous Slocan Valley since 1976, and she has taught clay studio and ceramic history courses at the Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College in Nelson, BC, since 1993.
Pamela's passion for clay has expanded through daily studio practice, using both electric and wood fired kilns, and through her world reaching travels and extensive studies on the subject.
She specializes in making high-temperature porcelain vessels suitable for daily use and ceremonial occasions. Her work embraces the vital relevance of sacred mythologies and the traditional faiths of many cultures.
Pamela's hand thrown and assembled forms arise from deep historical roots and varied ancient sources which she has encountered. Her pots come alive with subtle asymmetry and fluted flowing edges, which combine in a powerful irregularity of distinctive profiles and vigorous handles. The fire-blushed and delicate, glowing surfaces play with narratives of the wood kiln process and mythographic details enriched with universal symbols of soul exploration. Each individually titled porcelain vessel is a celebration of the vital relevance and diversity of sacred traditions and great faiths from many cultures.
"I ask my clay work to communicate in the universal language of devotion, offering and libation."