Date/Time
Date(s) - 12/05/2025 - 01/31/2026
All Day
Location
Art in Bloom Gallery at Mayfaire Town Center
Categories
Art in Bloom Gallery is pleased to continue our collaboration with the estate of master ceramicist, Traudi Thornton (1940-2023).
Traudi has continued her unique presence at Art in Bloom Gallery, where she participated in exhibits and sales beginning in 2015. The gallery is pleased to present “The Final Selection of Pottery Sale’” featuring her unique works of functional pottery. Beginning on Friday, December 5th, we will be releasing the final selection of inventory by the artist. All of the pieces will be on sale until each piece of pottery finds its forever home!
For our Raku lovers, the gallery plans on releasing the final selection of Raku pieces beginning on January 18th, 2026! This final release will coincide with the Kiln Restoration Project at Fat Cat Pottery, where they will be honoring Traudi Thornton’s Legacy with the restoration of Traudi’s gas kiln. Find out more on Fat Cat Pottery’s Website!
Fat Cat Pottery Honors Traudi Thornton’s Legacy Through Kiln Restoration Project
Local Studio and Master Potter Join Forces to Preserve Beloved Artist’s Creative Spirit
WILMINGTON – Fat Cat Pottery Community Studio is proud to announce the acquisition and restoration of a gas kiln from the estate of beloved local ceramist Traudi Thornton, ensuring her artistic legacy continues to inspire future generations of potters.
The kiln refurbishment and installation will take place the weekend of January 16th, led by renowned local potter Ben Owen, along with Fat Cat Pottery staff and dedicated community members. This collaborative effort embodies the spirit of artistic community that Traudi held dear throughout her remarkable career.
“We are deeply honored to carry on Traudi’s legacy,” said Sarah Worley, co-owner of Fat Cat Pottery. “This kiln represents more than equipment—it’s a connection to an artist who dedicated her life to clay and to nurturing the creative spirits of others. Learning from master crafter Ben Owen while bringing this kiln back to life feels like the perfect way to honor Traudi’s memory.”
Traudi Thornton’s journey with ceramics began at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she studied under Henry Soreco and participated in a raku workshop with Paul Soldner in 1972. After spending time in a cooperative art community in Germany, love brought her to Wilmington in 1983, where she built a ceramic studio and began teaching at the Community Art Center, influencing countless local artists.
“Working with clay validates my existence,” Traudi once said, describing her intimate relationship with the medium that defined her artistic life. Her philosophy of surrendering to the fire and embracing the transformative power of heat resonates with every potter who will use this kiln. Traudi’s body of work remains on display at Art in Bloom Gallery and UNCW, where the community can continue to experience her artistic vision.
The restoration project represents the intersection of community, craftsmanship, and continuity—values that Traudi embodied throughout her teaching and artistic practice. Under Ben Owen’s expert guidance, community members will gain hands-on experience while ensuring this kiln continues its creative purpose.
Fat Cat Pottery Community Studio invites the community to celebrate Traudi’s enduring impact on Wilmington’s artistic landscape through this meaningful preservation project.