About Brian
For much of my life, I have considered myself a creative person and an arts patron, but never an artist. After spending 30 years consulting global organizations on how to capture the hearts and minds of employees, I honed my skills in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and detailed execution. This journey turned me into a proficient marketer, storyteller, and successful small business owner.
Inspired by my professional mentor and friend, I felt a calling beyond consulting. In 2021, I began taking pottery classes in New York City to learn the fundamentals, practice forms and techniques, and build a community with other artists. With five years of experience, I have evolved my hobby into a second small business and at 54, I continue to reinvent myself, drawing out the artist within.
Today, Brian Burgess Ceramics creates bespoke stoneware ceramics for the garden, home, and table, each piece handcrafted on the North Fork of Long Island. I reside in Greenport, New York, with my partner Rommel, cats Sloan and Luca, and puppies Mina and Bibi.
Artist Statement
Rooted in the vibrant creative landscape of the North Fork of Long Island, my work is a reflection of place, process, and people. What began as a personal journey, an intimate exploration of clay and its grounding connection to the earth, has evolved into Brian Burgess Ceramics: a studio dedicated to crafting bespoke stoneware that embodies the essence of North Fork living.
The North Fork is more than a backdrop; it’s a living, breathing source of inspiration. Its rich culture of craftsmanship, entrepreneurial spirit, and artistic collaboration informs my
practice. While the elemental forces of earth, water, and fire shape my work physically, it is the human connections and conversations with farmers, gardeners, designers, chefs,
shop owners, and artists that breathe life into each piece.
In my first four years, I immersed myself in the fundamentals of form and technique, building a strong foundation through discipline and experimentation. Today, my work reflects a deeper narrative. One that celebrates community, shared stories, and the quiet beauty of collaboration. I use a blended approach, integrating wheel throwing, pinching, slab building, and coiling to create pieces that are as diverse and dynamic as the community that inspires them.
Each vessel is a tactile expression of place and purpose, functional art that invites connection, sparks conversation, and honors the spirit of the North Fork.