Liz often oscillates back and forth between hand building and wheel throwing in her practice, so you will likely find the evidence of both modes of working when you visit. Her pottery wheel is set up towards the back of her space and this is often what she turns to in between big projects to reset and imagine what will come next.

One of the benefits of ceramics is that you can recycle unfired clay when things don't turn out the way that you had hoped. Liz has an ongoing scrap bucket that she is periodically mixing and pouring onto a plaster bat to dry out.

Liz is inspired by printmaking, children's book illustrations and textiles, so her studio walls have fragments of these things. The family’s washing machine and dryer are in the middle of her space and this has inspired drawings and forms in her recent work.

In addition to inspiration, work in progress and completed works, if you love a good handmade cup or ceramic "basket", there will likely be some to pick up and purchase!

Elizabeth Copland creates narrative ceramic sculptures, inspired from stories of her own life, growing up in the Pacific Northwest, and her relationships. In her most recent body of work, she playfully narrates her experience of working from home while raising small humans during the global pandemic.

Elizabeth is drawn to the transformative nature of ceramics. In its raw, wet state, it gives fully, capturing fingerprints and leaving behind human imperfections. While in its fired state, it is transformed into a hardened, permanent object. She approaches building with clay cognizant of the truth that clay was here before us and will outlast us all. Clay forces you to be humble, to submit to change, and to embrace imperfections.

Liz recently joined SHIFT Gallery in Pioneer Square.

Elizabeth Copland is a ceramic-based artist living in Shoreline, Washington. Her work is whimsical, narrative and expressive in nature, often drawing on connections to the beauty of the northwest and stories of people in her immediate community.

Elizabeth received her BFA in Ceramics from the University of Washington in 2008 and an MA in Art History in 2022.

In addition to her studio practice, she works with emerging artists at the University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design as an Academic Adviser.

How to maintain a studio practice with two small kids and a day job (!!!)

Podcasts and audio books! (Recommendations welcome!)

Liz loves to listen to these after everyone’s tucked into bed for the night and she’s getting to work in the studio.

Liz’s studio is located in the basement/laundry room of Liz’s home. To enter, guests will have a short walk down a sloped driveway. Visitors will then descend a small set of stairs to get into the basement that does not have railing.

For all visitors, but especially those with mobility concerns, Liz will have some artwork for view and purchase outside of her studio, so you will not necessarily have to transit the stairs to the studio in order to view her work.