About Merle.
Merle R. Lambeth designs and creates pottery in her home studio in San Diego, CA. Her pottery is made from stoneware clay that is either wheel-thrown or constructed from soft, thin slabs. The clay is then altered, textured, stamped, cut and folded into exciting, unique forms. Glazing is the final step, when Merle dips each piece into her custom-formulated glaze mixtures, often shades of green or blue, and then fires them in an electric kiln to 2200°.
Merle’s pottery has long been recognized for its exceptional textural elements and her attention to detail in the finishing of each piece. She is constantly refining her process to incorporate multiple layers of textures and patterns with her unique slab folding skills. Exploration and playfulness are reflected in her work as she moves from one piece to the next. No two pieces are exactly alike as each builds upon the last and is inspired by both the responses of the clay and the people who give her pottery homes.
Merle’s pottery journey has involved extensive self-exploration coupled with workshops and conferences around the country. All of Merle’s pieces are both functional and decorative and reflect over 40 years of communing with clay.
“Play in the dirt because
life is too short
to always have
clean fingernails.”
— The Prairie Homestead