ARTISTS

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Melissa Hancock is a ceramic artist based in Franklin, TN, whose work is driven by a deep appreciation for beauty, growth, and utility. From an early age, Melissa knew she was an artist—she believes everyone has that creative spark. She studied art with an emphasis on painting and art history, earning a BA in Art from Carson Newman University in Tennessee. It wasn’t until the mid-2000s, however, that she discovered ceramics and decided to pursue art as a profession.

Melissa specializes in hand-building techniques, a pottery method that allows for the creation of unique, sculptural forms without a wheel. While she occasionally uses the wheel to add symmetry to her hand-built pieces, her focus remains on the tactile and organic process of shaping clay by hand.

For Melissa, the artistic process is less about self-expression or catharsis and more about creating work that is both beautiful and functional. She believes that art should inspire growth and offer utility, and she is drawn to ceramics because of the opportunity to craft pieces that serve a purpose while also serving as objects of beauty.

Melissa now devotes her time to expanding her ceramic practice, experimenting with new techniques in her basement studio, where she can often be found covered in clay dust and listening to true crime podcasts.