Meet Tammy Gentuso | Clay Artist

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

Hi Tammy, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Other than electing to work for myself, the most important decision I’ve made that has significantly impacted my success as a clay artist is the choice to follow my passion rather than the crowd. Working at the Clay Lady’s Campus where most artists produce functional, traditional pottery, the emphasis has been on the more practical side of being a clay artist: make functional work because that is what your average customer is looking for when they come to shop. I did this for the first two years in my studio but knew that once I’d mastered working on the potter’s wheel, I’d be off for the wilds of more artsy clay work–the reckless world of sculpting and carving and creating eclectic pieces that are not only out of budget for many customers coming into our galleries but also work that wouldn’t fit everyone’s esthetic.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

I am a clay artist and I work with bright colors and whimsy to bring a smile to those who see my pieces.

As an artist, I often work in series rather than one-offs—it just makes sense to my thinking. Working in clay as a sculptor for more than a decade, I first began with a series of busts of strong women whom I’d met and photographed when in West Africa on humanitarian aid trips. After that series, I enjoyed making whimsical tea sets and then moved on to making architectural pieces, especially row houses, and did many commissions of people’s homes during this time.

After this, in 2017, I began work on the Nashville Clayscape which ended up being a three-year-long project—and as an artist who gets bored with things pretty quickly once I’ve tackled them, that still amazes me. The Nashville Clayscape — which is likely my magnum opus by virtue of its size and detail — is a 25’ X 8’ ceramic tile mural of Nashville. It is composed of 192 square-foot handmade tiles which are detailed with little houses, buildings, architectural wonders, public art, Nashville’s flora, iconic landmarks, etc. It is located outdoors on the Clay Lady’s Campus and brings in visitors everyday — some having traveled a good distance after reading about it online.

In the period after completing the Clayscape, I focused on making Nashville-themed platters and bowls and trays—YES! These count as functional in a loose sense, but they were quite fun to do and besides, I doubt anyone ever used them to serve salad haha. Made in the style of the mural with many little houses and details, I also stayed with the color scheme of the mural so that connection would be made in clients’ minds.

For the past two years, I have focused on a series of sculptures that celebrate children’s literature favorites. This has been influenced by the joy my hubby and I have of raising a granddaughter. These sculptures have consumed my thoughts and often show up in my dreams! I am on my fourteenth book and have hundreds to go! I think that because the subject matter varies so greatly, it has stayed fresh and challenging to me as an artist.

Let me mention Wee Littles here. Early on, I was scandalized at how much clay (the scraps from each piece) I was wasting so I began making little things with the bits and pieces. This practice morphed into one of my most popular and long-lasting series, Wee Little Houses. I make them once or twice a year in batches of 200-300 little ceramic houses. Every single one is unique—no patterns, cutters or molds are ever used. These mini-houses are glazed in bright, cheery colors and given much detail. They are a sweet, small, and an affordable option for folks to collect and enjoy.

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

As to how I got to where I am today, it has taken steady plodding. Learn a new technique, try a new idea, perfect a new color palette, just keep on pushing boundaries every day in the studio.

Was this easy? Yes and no. It was as easy as just putting one foot in front of the other and it was as hard as push-push-pushing toward an idea that won’t stop swirling in my mind!

Concerning overcoming challenges, I’ll share that this past decade has been filled with obstacles — from family members’ mental health struggles directly impacting my husband and me, to me receiving a diagnosis of heart failure due to my lupus.

This decade has also been filled with victories and deep joy as we embrace our six-year-old granddaughter (she’s been with us since she was one) and learn how to juggle a flexible lifestyle to accommodate energy levels and flares.

How did we do this? Well, I have to say that moderating my goals in the studio has been important — no more 12-14 hours immersed in my clay. Frustrating? Not really. It has been good to slow down, and I think it has been good for my physical studio work, too, as I give more thought to the whats and hows of each piece. I am also certain that had we not been so immersed in raising a little one, I’d never have had the idea for a series of kids’ lit-based sculptures! And though the Clayscape is my biggest work and the one for which I am most known, it is these sweet book-inspired works which have my heart!

Let me see, the book sculptures that are done/almost done are as follows:

Where the Wild Things Are (several sculptures and bookends)
Go Dog Go (two sculptures)
The Day the Crayons Quit
Bluey at the Beach
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day
The Victory Garden Vegetable ABC Book
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Olivia (my favorite so far!)
Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Pete the Cat: Rockin’ in My School Shoes

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

It is okay to go with your ideas even if no one else gets it — they will, at some point. Regardless, you’ll be happier going this way than you would be if you always stayed in the safe lane and never challenged yourself.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I want my work to inspire and to bring joy, peace even, to the viewer. If it doesn’t bring a smile, I think I’ve missed my mark! There is SO much difficulty and negativity coming at us daily, hourly even, that I want my pieces to be a source of calm. I want you to glance at your kitchen window sill and see the Wee Littles perched there in a line, and I want you to smile. To remember that there IS good in the world. There is a purpose for the chaos. There is a plan and thus a Planner for it all.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For food, we have a distinct Donelson leaning! For barbecue, Edley’s; for Mexican, Nectar Urban Cantina; for breakfast, First Watch (just over the line in Hermitage); for doughnuts, Five Daughters; for Italian cuisine, Nicoletto’s; for Asian cuisine, Kobe Asian Fusion (near the airport); for pizza, Dicey’s Tavern; for coffee/tea, Caliber (in Donelson); for a noodle bowl, Vui’s; for Thai, Dusit Thai/Royal Thai; for Greek, Kalamata’s in Greenhills; and the list could go on and on.

Activities — tour Lower Broad, see the Parthenon, do the First Museum, walk Bicentennial Mall and the Farmers Market; and most definitely, spend time on the Clay Lady’s Campus.

Outdoors — do the greenways, rent bikes or walk; the Zoo at Grassmere (go early).

Parks (for kiddos) — Ravenwood Park (Donelson/Hermitage); Charlie Daniels Park (Mt. Juliet and WORTH the drive); Red Caboose Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Always, the community at The Clay Lady’s Campus in Nashville TN; especially Danielle McDaniel, the actual Clay Lady, who has supported and encouraged me from my first days as an artist on the Campus.

Website: https://studiogentuso.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammygentuso/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammyg-of-studio-gentuso/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsgentuso/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/studio-gentuso-nashville

Other: Threads — https://www.threads.net/@tammygentuso
Pinterest — https://www.pinterest.com/tsgentuso/
Tumblr for the Nashville Clayscape — https://nashvilleclayscape.tumblr.com/

Image Credits
I have taken all images.