April Johnston returned to pottery in 2020 after a twenty year career as a professional photographer. When commercial work paused, clay became her primary medium and focus.Her practice is centered on hand built vessels made start to finish by hand. Texture leads the process, with form developing in response to how the surface moves and settles. Each piece is shaped to support this relationship between material and structure.
Johnston draws from the landscapes of California, particularly coastal and desert environments. Stones, sand, coral, and terrain inform the surfaces and tones of the work, translated through traditional ceramic techniques. The shift back to clay marked a move from constant travel to a studio practice rooted in quiet, repetition, and focus. The work reflects this change through restrained forms and an emphasis on stillness and balance.
