Rena Hamilton

Rena Hamilton is a potter, wife, dog lover, cook, gardener, and outdoor enthusiast.  She is planting roots and building community in Flagstaff, Arizona. 

Rena studied at Ohio University earning a BFA and MA in Art Education.  Rena is a long time secondary art teacher and spent many years advising future educators in the university setting.   When not working in the studio or in the classroom, Rena can be found exploring the high desert via mountain bike, back country skis, or motorcycle. 

Rena has exhibited throughout the U.S. and has work included in private collections in the United States, Australia, and Canada.    Rena founded the Flagstaff Potters’ Guild in 2011 for area potters to share resources and information while building community and promoting our work.

Artist Statement:  I strive to create work that resonates with a range of human emotions and our place in the natural world. Taking deep satisfaction in functional beauty, my work is rooted in utility with ever-increasing explorations in color, pattern, and scale.

Most recently, I have been driven to investigate concepts of equilibrium and our role in helping the natural world maintain harmony as well as continually exploring the idea of balance in opposites. We have witnessed beauty amidst destruction, joy and sorrow often co-exist, and grace can reside alongside strength.

As a maker, it brings me much delight to create pieces that are used in moments of celebration and daily rituals; whether it's a gathering of closest friends and family sharing good food and drink or a quiet contemplative moment alone with a morning cup of coffee.   I hope my pottery brings joy, beauty, and a touch of grounding in a busy, sometimes chaotic, world.