David Berg

Although he currently works as a molecular biologist for Eli Lilly and Company, David Berg delights in creating detailed and beautiful stoneware pottery.

He began learning the craft at the age of 10 and refined his skills through elective ceramics courses in college and by working for Bloomington Pottery Company after college. He put the hobby aside for about 20 years before opening a studio in 2004, and he hopes to work full-time in his studio some day.

The functional nature of clay inspires David to make each piece both beautiful and flawless.

“The appeal of clay and glazes as my artistic medium is in creating pieces that strike a balance between utility and fine art,” he says. “My objective is to create functional ceramic art intended for everyday use, and I stay motivated by knowing that my stoneware is now being used by folks across the U.S.”

David carefully handcrafts each piece into its own unique design and he continually experiments with new techniques and glazes so that no two pieces are the same.

David throws on a potter’s wheel and then hand models and textures his pieces while the clay is still moist. He uses an antique, manually operated wheel called a Denton Vars side treadle wheel.

“I prefer this creaky, old manual treadle wheel to a motor driven model because in addition to adding a lot of character to the piece, I like having greater overall control. I also feel that my providing the power to turn the wheel, rather than relying on electricity, helps me focus on a more natural, creative progression of the raw earthen clay into finished art objects,” he says.