Sadie McLaughlin

Type of Work: Ceramic/Oil/Acrylic Paint

Contact Information

Email: sadiemclaughlin2@gmail.com

Website: sadiemclaughlin.com

Biography

Artist Bio

About Sadie: Sadie McLaughlin is a Florida-raised ceramic artist and educator who develops work that exists on the boundary between functional and sculptural forms. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Florida, where she concentrated her studies in painting, drawing, and printmaking. She continued her studies at the university as a post-baccalaureate student in the ceramics program for several years, while also working as an instructor and studio technician at Jacksonville Pottery Studio. Sadie is a 2026-2027 Ceramic Artist in Residence at Sawtooth School for Visual Art.

Ceramics Artist Statement

The work I build uses both throwing and hand building techniques, often incorporating drape molds to create simple shapes that become dynamic through shifts in perspective. These forms relate to one another—leaning, resting, or responding—creating quiet narratives through gesture, proximity, and space. Even ambiguous forms can feel animate, embodying traces of human expression. My fascination with functional art stems from the idea that objects can serve as memory devices, helping us recall the harbored moments, encountered spaces, and nuanced relationships that surround them. The functionality of my work is designed for intimate use. Textures are often applied to the surface using found materials and an assortment of tools that display a variety of lines, shapes, and grain. The majority of my work is wood-fired, a manual process that introduces variation and depth through flame, ash, and exposure. I’m especially drawn to the darkness introduced by reduction-cooling, which carries the introspective tone of the work and emphasizes form and relationship.