Hello, I'm Amie Sell

A sculptor creating art that reminds humans that we are nature and nature is us

These days I mostly use clay to create colorful & playful objects inspired by the interconnection of nature, joy of flowers, and humor of animals.

Currently, I’m working on a new body of ceramic work for a solo show at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens opening in late August 2025.

Living and working in Northeast Ohio, I enjoy bringing the joy of clay to students of all ages and abilities as a teaching artist. As a designer, I make functional neti pots under B. Swell Ceramics.

My long term artmaking goal is to figure out how to bring my ceramic craft skills back to the more experimental mixed media explorations from earlier in my career.

Let’s keep in touch! Be the first to know about new work, exhibitions, and online shop sales

Newsletter sign-up

Events

Ceramic Sculpture

Joy & Technique

Sculptures that celebrate interconnections between nature, humanity and ecology with clay.

Ceramics

Mixed Media Sculpture

Play & Craftsmanship

Found objects, gathered natural materials, and other juxtapositions that create unique artworks and collages

Mixed Media

Ceramic peach colored neti pot on a bathroom counter.

Functional Objects

Neti Pots & Vessels

Crafting multiples of sculptural objects for everyday use, form meets function

Neti Pots & more

Clock hand detail from Time & Big Band art installation

Installations

Temporary & Experiential

Large scale installations, time-based and site specific that invite the audience in to experience

Experience Installations

Seaweed material experiment exploration from Humboldt County, Pacific Ocean

Material Explorations

Wonder & Experimentation

Materials that intrigue me from nature and manufacturing that evolve into sculptures

Explore Materials

Amie Sell teaching youth a sculpture class at a high school

Community & Public Art

Connection & Impact

Uplifting public projects that take teams and community to complete

Public Art & Design

Barn Owls, 2024
Bird Baggage Series
ceramic, handmade figurines

We all bring baggage to relationships. Birds often pair up and have wildly differnt relationship types.

Barn Owls would bring their own perch, on wheels, one neatly packed hardcase suitcase.

What type of bird would you and your partner be?

Blue Jays, 2024
Bird Baggage Series
ceramic, handmade figurines

We all bring baggage to relationships. Birds often pair up and have wildly differnt relationship types.

Blue Jays, well, they would bring trunks and boxes.

What type of bird would you and your partner be?

a pair of blue jays perched on stacks of suitcases, trunks,and boxes.
a closeup of the deatil on the blue jay sculpture

find this pair forsale at @heightsarts in their gallery shop

Blue Birds, 2024
Bird Baggage Series
ceramic, handmade figurines

Bird Baggage was inspired by a custom sculpture made for a couple who loves birds and how easy their later-in-life relationship with each other.

We all bring baggage to relationships. Birds often pair up and have wildly differnt relationship types.

Blue birds would keep things light with light pouches.

What type of bird would you and your partner be?

Flower Receptor, porcelain, 2024
This piece was a happy accident from a flop on the wheel while practicing throwing double walled donut shapes on the wheel.

The organic shape of flowers and structures of utility towers had been on my mind while making this mistake into art.

It's currently on display in the #NewNow2024 annual juried show of the best of the best art in Northeast Ohio. Honored to be included, feeling accepted in my new art community.

See in progress images and video of successful donuts 🍩

#artistarchives #happyaccidents #porcelain #flowerreceptor #featsofunlearning #ceramicart #installshot

Spring inspired work ready for the @screwfactoryart Spring Art Show!

All will be for sale
Friday 6-10 PM &
Saturday 10-3 PM

This is the first batch of glaze fired ceramics from my kiln in my home studio. I'm ecstatic to share it all with you in-person this weekend.

Image List
1. Fire Foxglove Vase
2. Fire Foxglove Vase with topper removed
3. Blooming ring dishes
4. Petal Pusher, wall-hung art
5. Not-so-common Violet, wall-hung art
6. Tulip mugs
7. Air plant holder
8. Bee Honey Pots
9. Legged dishes
10. Watery Eye vases & mug

#screwfactory #ceramicart #bloom #foxglove #ringdish #violet #petal #honeybee #mcm #airplant #eyeball #ceramicsculpture

Bluebirds & Bonsai, ceramic sculpture designed and made for @somerville3212 and her partner David.
It was fun to discuss their relationship and create something meaningful and unique for their new home.
I gave them three design options and this one spoke to them most. They were very happy with the piece and even the bluebirds visited and gave their approval 🐦🐦

Designing one-of-a-kind artwork in celebration of their love was a great honor and joy. My books are open for 2024 to take on a couple more special projects. Reach out if you are curious.

#bonsai #bluebird
#happyanniversary #ceramicsculpture #ceramic

Star Orchids 🌟 💮
hand painted, double sided, porcelain ornaments
send flowers 💐 that last forever to a friend

I'll have these available Dec 15-17 @screwfactoryart
and a few in my online shop 🏷️

www.amiesell.com

#orchids
#ornaments #porcelain

Collection of pieces that will be available @mortarwaterloo for member Winter Sale starting Dec 1st @ 5 pm during the monthly art walk in Waterloo Arts District, Cleveland.

See some new art and meet great artists, maybe even start your holiday shopping.

Trees and hedgehogs 🦔

#waterlooartsdistrict #mortarwaterloo #ceramicart

Holy Basil 🍃 mugs
white stoneware
also known as Tulsi, this beautiful herb is known to help relieve stress and anxiety.

A couple are in my online shop
https://www.amiesell.com/product-page/holy-basil-mug

Free Shipping for #cybermonday
#mugshotmonday #tulsi #holybasil
#teatime #tea

Hedgehogs 🦔
Available Nov 25th for Small Business Saturday in my online shop starting at 10 am

www.amiesell.com
🔗 In bio

Free shipping on orders over $80, Nov 25th-27th 📦

POPPIES💮
dazed and glazed this collection brings alive the beauty of the flower with porcelain tea cups, bowls and wall-hanging sculptures

Available this Saturday 11/25 @ 10 am EST in online shop
www.amiesell.com
🔗In bio

Celebrate Small Business Saturday by supporting your local artists and shops

Studio shelves are full of new art ready for release on Small Business Saturday! Check out preview from 78th St Studios third Friday art market. Met some lovely people who love art 🦔

Online store opens at 10 am EST.
www.amiesell.com
🔗In bio

#smallbusinesssaturday #ceramics #buylocal

Bird of Prey butter dishes include the snowy owl this year! They have fluffy claws and would never drop the cover.

Available for purchase online Saturday, Nov 25th at 10 am
www.amiesell.com (link in bio)
& In-person Friday, Nov 17th at 78th Street studios Art Walk in Cleveland.

#butterdish #claw #birdofprey #birdsofinstagram #smallbusinesssaturday #78thstreetstudios

A pileated woodpecker appeared on a hike at Tinker's Creek in the Cleveland Metroparks, one week after I started sculpting one for a gift. Often elusive, I took it as a sign to keep on making more, each with their own personality and red crest mohawk. True punk rockers of the forest!

Did you know that woodpeckers have a super long tongue that wraps all the way up into its cranium?

They will be for sale in my online shop at 10 am EST on November 25th for Small Business Saturday. Link in Bio

#woodpecker #porcelain #sculpture #birdsofinstagram

Cardinal Trinity Memorial, porcelain, 2023

Grieving the loss of three important loved ones inspired this sculpture. Manipulating the clay helped me to transform held emotions into a piece that allows me to call their spirits when needed.

Three cardinals are sheltered between the wings of a snowy owl. A vase and candle holder are built into the sculpture.

In my family, birds are spirit signs of our loved ones reminding us that they are always with us and loved..

Senseless death by war and genocide continue to plague our world. This day of the dead is an especially heavy one for our earth. May you all take a moment to commune with the spirits of your ancestors and find some peace.

.
.
.
#memorialart #porcelainsculpture #cardinals #spirit #diadelosmuertos #remember #grief #candle

Collage has always been a very soothing way for my hands and brain to work out ideas. A creative warm-up of sorts.

This piece, Dam Age, is one from a developing series about unlearning, natural knowing, transformation, and dreaming with images sourced from outdated science & geography books and architectural magazines. Cutting, deconstructing, reconfiguring and decontextualizing found images.

Join us for the closing of the Works on Paper @agitatorgallery Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 7- 11 pm. I will be there and part of an artist talk about how we work with paper. A limited number of beautiful catalogs of the show are available with high quality prints of each piece in the show!

Dam Age is now available for purchase in my shop.

#collage #featsofunlearning #ancientknowledge #worksonpaper

These images are 5 year-old seeds of inspiration for a burgeoning series of collages and sculptures called ‘Feats of Unlearning’.

I use collage as a way to creatively warm-up conceptually and this series is about unlearning, natural knowing, and dreaming with images sourced from outdated science & geography books and architectural magazines.

Cutting, deconstructing, reconfiguring and decontextualizing found images is relaxing and exciting for my hands and mind to work together.

These images are from a 2018 residency in Ketchikan, Alaska. Arriving at this residency without a solid direction for art making, I ripped apart a 1950s leather-bound book about Alaska and began to meditate on the idea of unlearning while remixing the images into new narratives.

It was a collection of white male-centric, colonizer essays, illustrations, and photos. Reflecting the times, it took the stance that the wild land and indigenous peoples were there to be tamed, conquered, and plundered.

Unlearning the ways of the colonizing mindset is a work-in-progress for many of us white people. My hope is to make work that invokes others to take that journey with me.

#colonization #featsofunlearning #wearenature

These collages, Ancient Knowing 01 & 02, are from a burgeoning series called Feats of Unlearning. Ancient Knowing 02 is currently in the Works on Paper show at @agitatorgallery

I use collage as a way to creatively warm-up conceptually and this series is about unlearning, natural knowing, and dreaming with images sourced from outdated science & geography books and architectural magazines.

Cutting, deconstructing, reconfiguring and decontextualizing found images is relaxing and exciting for my hands and mind to work together.

Join us for the closing of the show On Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 7- 11 pm. I will be there and part of an artist talk about how we work with paper.

A limited number of beautiful catalogs of the show are available with high quality prints of each piece in the show!

Ancient Knowing 01 is now available for purchase in my shop.

#collage #featsofunlearning #ancientknowledge #worksonpaper

Mid Century Modern & trumpet flower ❇️ inspired porcelain vases. This pair is thrown on the wheel, then hand shaped & glazed.

Now available in my shop (link in bio)

Hedge hog cuties out in the wildflowers, enjoying the beginning of fall 🍁 before they head into my shop later this month

I'm typically not too attached to my art, but these little guys bring me so much joy and it will be hard to say good bye.
.
.
.
#hedgehog #animallovers #furryfriends
#pinchpots

Monster Drawing Rally @spacescle has me energized and inspired! Artists show up and throw down for one hour of drawing. The drawings are hung up and immediately for sale. It's a fundraiser with an optional commission for us artists. It's nice to not be asked to do something for free while supporting the arts community in Cleveland.
.
.
.
#drawingchallenge #monsterdrawingrally #spacescle #automaticdrawing #watercolorart #watercolordrawing #makeart

Smashing clay pots is the best way l to learn from mistakes + it's fun 😹 This summer I'm practicing throwing large bowls and dinner plates. Clay is always humbling and teaches me non attachment.
.
.
.
#smash #smashclay #smashpottery #stayhumble #keeppracticing #potterythrowdown

Mary Nell Meyer memorial, porcelain, 2023
@mary.n.meyer was a caregiver to all in her life. This plant holder and vase will be put in the mausoleum where her ashes are for visitors to leave flowers.
We miss her laugh, tenderness, passion and most of all her great hugs.
.
.
.
#memorial #mommydearest #flowervase #porcelain #gonebutneverforgotten #hugs

My adorable nephews visited my ecotone sculpture in the regional biennial. I love them so much!

Kiln loaded, one large lump of porcelain transformed.
Many detailed sculptures 🎢🪵😇 Now time to rest while kiln gods do their magic 🌈

Dropped off a sculpture at this gem of a sculpture museum in Saginaw, Michigan. Excited to have an Ecotone sculpture included in their regional biennial!

The museum houses Marshall Fredericks impressive full scale plaster mock-ups and many other artifacts from his years as a public & private art sculptor.

The scale, craft, and engineering of the pieces left me awe stricken. But as I wandered the museum, I pondered the great privilege of resources he had to accomplish such feats.

I recently read a study that artists in Great Britain were compensated £3 an hour on average to complete a piece of public art. My guess is that the stats are even more dismal in the USA.

#publicart #sculpture #fullscale
#plaster
#bronze

Airplants are beautiful, easy to keep alive and do not need soil. Pairing one with one of my handmade porcelain holders makes the perfect gift for the plant lover in your life.

Thank you to @revivecafeoh for supporting local artists! The beautiful blooming airplants are from @lakewoodplantcompany, they have a great selection in their store.

Bravery, stoneware, 2023 (Daring Greatly series)

These ceramic armadillo sculptures are inspired by Brené Brown's writing, research, and talks about shame, vulnerability, and leadership. Head over to you tube and watch one of her Ted talks, you will be inspired by her candor and scientific approach to living a more meaningful life.

The wheel symbolizes continuous movement toward self improvement. The spear symbolizes courage, power, and bravery.

"Loving ourselves through the process of owning our story is the bravest thing we will ever do." - Brené Brown

#daringgreatly
#brenebrown
#lifewelllived #armadillo #wheeloflife #animallovers #selfimprovement #bebrave #vulnerabilityisstrength #handmadeceramics #pottery #leader #leadership #trust #sculpture

Courage, stoneware, 2023 (Daring Greatly series)

These ceramic armadillo sculptures are inspired by Brené Brown's writing, research, and talks about shame, vulnerability, and leadership. Head over to you tube and watch one of her Ted talks, you will be inspired by her candor and scientific approach to living a more meaningful life.

The wheel symbolizes continuous movement toward self improvement. The spear symbolizes courage, power, and bravery.

"Daring greatly means the courage to be vulnerable. It means to show up and be seen. To ask for what you need. To talk about how you are feeling. To have the hard conversations." - Brené Brown

#daringgreatly
#brenebrown
#lifewelllived #armadillo #ceramicanimal #wheeloflife #animallovers #selfimprovement #vulnerability #courage #vulnerabilityisstrength #shame #trustyourself

Vulnerability, stoneware, 2023 (Daring Greatly series)

These ceramic armadillo sculptures are inspired by Brené Brown's writing, research, and talks about shame, vulnerability, and leadership. Head over to you tube and watch one of her Ted talks, you will be inspired by her candor and scientific approach to living a more meaningful life.

The wheel symbolizes continuous movement toward self improvement. The spear symbolizes courage, power, and bravery.

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, accountability and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path." - Brené Brown

#daringgreatly
#brenebrown
#lifewelllived #armadillo #ceramicsculpture #wheeloflife #animallovers #selfimprovement #vulnerability #vulnerabilityisstrength

Navy Gravy Boat, 2023, stoneware.
In response to a call for art about 'service' ware, I created this aircraft carrier gravy boat in honor of many friends and family who serve(d) in the Navy. Plus, I really love gravy 🤤
Squid is a nickname they give new recruits out of boot camp. Some serve to see the world, some for structure, citizenship and money, others do for honor and purpose. Whatever the reason, thank you for the inspiration fam!
.
.
.
#gravy #inthenavy
#usnavy #giantsquid #thanksgiving #aircraftcarrier #flightdeck #squid #tableware #ceramicart #topgun

This week I've been creating a memorial porcelain sculpture to honor the memories of my mom @mary.n.meyer, uncle @jsomerville1, and grandma @elaineleiberg. All three were creative beings who raised me and loved me unconditionally. Losing them these past few years has been rough, but grateful for their support and encouragement in becoming an artist.

A couple days before Jack passed, a snowy owl flew over me while taking a break from his hospice bed. It was silent, majestic and an omen. The Northern Cardinal was a bird beloved by them all. Tulips speak to our family Dutch heritage.

The piece has a candle holder and vase, so I can summon their spirits whenever I need them. Grief is a rollercoaster of emotions, grateful to have art to help me process it.
.
.
.
#porcelain #sculpture #clayart #memorial #diadelosmuertos #unconditionallove #remember #greiving #emotionalrelease #makeart #cardinals #birdsofinstagram #birdwatching

I love how one big lump of clay can become so many different pieces of art 🌈

Thank you to the kiln masters for making my first glaze firing @brickceramics a success!

#makearteveryday #lump #claysculpture

@chicagoartdept featured one of my Ecotone pieces on their promo for the upcoming exhibition & auction! Excited to be part of the amazing lineup of alumni

Opening preview May 12th

"As we reach our 19th year, we want to honor current and past artists-in-residence that have helped build CAD into the dynamic, artist-run organization it has become today. Over a dozen Alum will be showcased for this group show that spans nearly two decades. This Is What We Build is Curated by multidisciplinary artist Amanda Cervantes."

Hey friends! Out today celebrating spring 🌱 at my local, woman-owned coffee shop. Everything in my shop online and in-person is 25% off through April 2nd with coupon code SPRINGFOOL23
Link in bio | amiesell.com
.
.
.
#mugshot #springsale
#aprilfools #smallbusinesssaturday #handmadeceramics #coffeemug

Mugs, bowls, and pots all handmade make the perfect gift for the coffee, tea, plant and flower lovers in your life. Only 4 more days to have these direct shipped to them to guarantee their arrival in time for Christmas 🎄

Visit my shop to see these one-of-a-kind, functional pieces available in my shop.

Spend $80 for free shipping until Dec 17th
amiesell.com or Linktree in bio
.
.
.
#createmakeshare #craftsposure #createcultivate #pottersofinstagram #potter #coffeetime #coffeelovers #slabbuilt #ceramique #poterie #keramik #makersmovement
#pottery #ceramic #wheelthrown#contemporaryceramics #handmadeceramics #ceramilicious #ihavethisthingwithceramics #mugs #handbuiltceramics
#plantlove #plantmom #holidayartmarket #supportsmallbusiness #giftideas #tistheseason #handmade

Air plants are the perfect gift for the plant lovers and killers in your life. Simple to care for, no soil. Paired with a cute holder, they can brighten up any corner of your home.

Plants make people happy 🌱🎁💝

Visit my shop to see the one-of-a-kind porcelain pieces available in my shop. Price range $18-$36. Add an air plant for $3.

Spend $80 for free shipping until Dec 17th
amiesell.com or Linktree in bio
.
.
.
#airplants #airplantsofinstagram #airplantdecor #interiordesign #plantlove #plantmom #porcelain #holidayartmarket #supportsmallbusiness #giftideas #tistheseason #handmade #plantbased #plantsmakepeoplehappy

Happy Mugshot Monday! Get a handle on your holiday gifts by shopping small businesses this Cyber Monday. There are a handful of mugs left in my shop for that coffee & tea lover in your life☕

Buying something handmade, not from a factory, is a great way to support artists and give something one-of-a-kind this holiday season.

Online shop open until Dec. 17th
Link in bio
.
.
.
#mugshotmonday #coffeemug #mug #teacup #handmade #cybermonday #shopsmall #shoplocal #pottery #potterylove #handmadeholidays #buynothing #potterylife #wheelthrown #createmakeshare #craftsposure #createcultivate #pottersofinstagram #potter #coffeetime #coffeelovers #slabbuilt #ceramique #poterie #keramik

air plant holders, porcelain, each one unique, handmade, and hangs. In shop 11/27 - 12/17, perfect gift for holiday and new year season 🎁
.
.
.
#smallbusinesssaturday #airplantsofinstagram #queerplantlove #porcelainpaperclay #paperclay #wallart #decor #plantsofinstagram #handmade #claythings

Here & Now, clock hands & ceramic, 2022

2,000+ clock hands radiating from an orb to the gallery walls, tensioned with fishing line. Clock hands are used to denote time on a clock. Time is a manmade concept used to create order in our world.

Here & Now is a new composition of clock hands, repurposed from previous site-specific installations from the Time/Big Bang series (2010-2012). A ceramic orb, glazed to resemble new James Webb telescope photography was used to create a center as a nod to humankind’s ever evolving understanding of the universe.

Saint Xavier University invited me to share my artworks involving simple materials with their art student community, who often struggle with access to traditional sculpture studios after graduating college.

🎇 On view through December 3, 2022 at the SXU Gallery

Gallery info & directions link in bio

#atthismoment #stringtheory #beginningoftime #explosion #installationart #clockhands #clock #timebegins #sxugallery #temporaryart #sculpture #sitespecificart #sitespecificinstallation #chicagosouthside #artepovera #makearteveryday #artoninstagram #humanscale #findyourpurpose #art #soloshow #foundobject #ceramicorb #jameswebbtelescope

the Time Being, string & aluminum, 2022
.
.
Composed of hundreds of feet of butcher string, this sculpture is tensioned to an aluminum conduit structure, using simple hardware to attach to the ceiling and walls of the gallery. It floats above the floor, inviting the audience inside to take a moment of reflection and meditation on the present moment.

The Time Being is a new string composition of a past site-specific installation, Warm Memory (2015), which sought to broaden the concept of home to include the community at large. This piece is a shrinking of home, back to the self, nodding to our survival of the last few years by isolating ourselves from others during the pandemic.

Saint Xavier University invited me to share my artworks involving simple materials with their art student community, who often struggle with access to traditional sculpture studios after graduating college.

👁️‍🗨️ On view through December 3, 2022 at the SXU Gallery

Gallery info & directions link in bio

#stringart #meditation #pod #installationart #butcherstring #homesweethome #sxugallery #temporaryart #sculpture #sitespecificart #sitespecificinstallation #chicagosouthside #artepovera #makearteveryday #artoninstagram #humanscale #findyourpurpose #art #soloshow #timelapse #stringtheory

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow me on Instagram

@amiesell_sculpture