Busy working in sculpture and installation work, Benjamin didn’t touch ceramics for a decade. When he got his hands dirty in clay again, it was like coming home, as he’d received a BFA in ceramics in 2004. He loves working in a medium that has a longevity of thousands of years, but is made of the earth and can be shaped and molded. Inspired by nature and plants, Benjamin also runs an indoor plant installation business in Portland, where he constantly explores how we interact with plants and pottery. Spending time hiking and camping, experiencing solitude and quietness, is endlessly inspiring to him. After a recent Ochocos trip, he created his first “campfire” design flask.
Benjamin donates 5% of his sales to ONDA.
Benjamin June At-a-Glance
- Medium: ceramics
- Favorite Desert Critter: Pronghorn, golden eagles, and little blue-bellied fence lizards
- Favorite Desert Plant: Sagebrush and Ponderosa Pine
- Favorite Place in Oregon’s High Desert: Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
- Backpacking or Day Hikes: Car camping with hikes and long, meandering walks through the woods or desert
- Sunrise or Sunset: Sunset
- Go-To Song: Sound and Fury record – Sturgill Simpson
- Instagram: @benjamin.june