Artist: Sam Norman

Sam Norman created Woven Tower as a class project in his introductory M State ceramics class, taught by ceramics instructor Lori Charest.

I always tried to push the limits with projects and incorporated a few diverse techniques to create this piece. It was meant to deliver a stable but loose, almost ready-to-collapse feel.

This piece sparked Norman’s interest in further studying ceramics in college, and the decision of retired English faculty member and M State art curator Warren Olsen to purchase Woven Tower for the M State art collection helped inspire Norman to pursue a career in art.

Following his introduction to ceramics at M State, Norman earned a BFA with an emphasis in ceramics from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He subsequently attended an artist residency in North Carolina, then operated a private pottery studio in his hometown of Fergus Falls for several years before he began a full-time career in tattooing.