Meet Cassis Pitman | Sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassis Pitman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassis, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Be brave enough to let failure propel you forward. As a ceramic and sculpture artist, experiments and failures are an integral part of working with this medium.

I have been working with clay for over a decade, and yet there’s still so much I don’t know about. Starting my residency at The Clay Lady’s Campus three years ago provided me with more freedom to explore and create than I’ve ever had before. In those three years, I’ve made a lot of “losers”-sculptures I affectionately display at home rather than in my studio. Even though I’ve learned so much from them, they don’t quite fit into my body of work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My current body of work is rooted in storytelling and creating immersive experiences. I craft ceramic sculptures that merge elements of flora, coral, and fungi to evoke the feeling of exploring an alien ecosystem. My work blurs the line between the familiar and the unknown, inviting viewers into a tactile and visual journey. I’m especially drawn to creating pieces that beg to be touched or experienced up close, where every texture and detail contributes to a layered narrative. For example, my “Story Boxes” explore 3D storytelling, allowing viewers to engage with the work from multiple angles, each perspective revealing new aspects of the story.

Getting to where I am today has been a journey of persistence and growth. Like many artists, the path hasn’t always been easy. After graduating from The Maryland Institute College of Art, I spent years developing my voice as an artist. I’ve faced challenges, from balancing financial stability with creative freedom to building confidence in sharing my work on a larger scale. I overcame these obstacles by focusing on my love for storytelling and embracing the idea that art is not just about the finished product but the experience it creates for others.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that art doesn’t have to conform to traditional expectations. What sets me apart is my dedication to making work that isn’t just seen but felt—whether through the tactile surfaces that invite touch or the visual layers that draw the viewer into a deeper exploration. I am all about encouraging curiosity, inspiring moments of wonder, and creating connections between the viewer and the unknown. My hope is that my work not only tells a story but becomes an experience, sparking exploration both outwardly and within.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am an antique store hound. I love a good wander.

My favorite spot to go is Easter Nashville Antiques. They never fail to have some of the more interesting knick knacks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shoutout to Danielle McDaniel and The Clay Lady’s Campus. When I arrived three years ago as an employee, I had personally given up the label of “artist.” After experiencing burnout and not creating for some time, I simply didn’t feel like I deserved it. But the people around me—this incredible community—kept encouraging me to create and start making again.

I’ll never forget sitting down with Danielle to talk about my creativity and how I felt. As we discussed projects I had done in college, she looked at me and said, “You know, I really feel like you are an installation artist.”
I was so surprised! No one had ever said that to me before, and yet it clicked into place instantly. One thread in all of my work has been a desire to give people an experience. Be that emersive or tactile. She gave me the confidence and permission to work slowly, to build towards something meaningful rather than trying to create perfect works every single time.
Danielle has dedicated her life to makers of all kinds. Her studio is home to over eighty artists who have studio spaces. And with The Clay Lady’s Education Center opening up next year she is doubling our current student body. The real people she has been able to influence and impact in her lifetime so far is inspiring. I’m honored to be a part of this campus as both an employee and instructor as well as a studio artist.

Other: Currently I don’t have an online presence. (On a social media cleanse) But I do have work available in the Gallery space on the Clay Lady’s Campus

Image Credits
All taken by me