Biography

A. V. Smith was born in North Carolina where he lives and works. He began throwing pottery at the age of 15 and attended university to study turning techniques, glazes and firing. He worked at Pinehurst Pottery in 1978 making dinnerware, lamp bases, candle sticks and other items. He ran Clenny Creek Pottery in partnership with Charles Lisk in Pinehurst and Southern Pines, North Carolina, until 1982 when Charles moved to Hickory. A.V. works with many of the traditional shapes that are common to Catawba Valley Pottery with an emphasis on the functional aspect of the work. His work, however, is characterized by a love of intense colour using traditional alkaline glaze in addition to many brilliant hues and colours.