Naomi Teppich
Sculptor

I create ceramic wall sculptures and three-dimensional pieces that are inspired by primordial sea creatures and their fossilized forms and textures.I have observed them during my travels to the northern Rocky Mountains in Western Canada and in museums in the United States. The many biomorphic fungi forms, and lichens that I observe in forests and alongside road also intrigue me. These beautiful species can grow in a multitude of environments and can replenish depleted soils and dead environments. Both the fossils and lichens are ancient or extinct, continuously changing and evolving which I find fascinating.

I fire my ceramic works in either an electric kiln or a wood fired anagama kiln, which slowly fires the clay to high temperatures giving the works a very organic appearance. Paired with some of the fossil ceramic works are two dimensional mixed media drawings. I also carve stone in alabaster, limestone, and marble, and make large ferro-cement sculptures. (see website www.naomiteppich.com)

Much of my early life was spent in several neighborhoods of Brooklyn. I also studied in Brooklyn, and earned my MFA from Pratt Institute in sculpture. I moved to lower Manhattan in 1977, and lived and worked there for many years. I also taught art and sculpture in NYC. Since 2004 I have been living mostly in North-eastern Pennsylvania where I work in a large, well-lit studio and enjoy nature and the Delaware River. I also visit New York City fairly frequently and keep up with museum and gallery exhibits.

In 2009 I won a Puffin Grant for a sculpture titled "Ocotillo Patch" which I built collaboratively with another artist and it has been shown in several locations. Most recently it was displayed at the Bridge Gardens and the Peconic Land Trust in Bridgehampton, Long Island during the summer of 2010.