John Ross

Ross Pottery

John’s pottery journey began unexpectedly as a senior at Lake Oswego High School in the 1980s. “My dad told me if I kept a 3.0 GPA, I could do what I wanted,” John remembers. With no prior interest in pottery, he picked it as an elective, thinking it would be an easy pass. Instead, he found a lifelong passion.

From that first class, John was hooked. He continued working with clay at the Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center on Maui and later as a production potter at Classic Clay Concepts in Tualatin, Oregon. Five years in production pottery sharpened his skills and inspired him to build his first kiln, all while exploring new forms on the side.

Today, after 40 years and a few career changes, John is a full-time potter. He specializes in functional ware—food and drink vessels and a variety of planters, many inspired by his production days but reimagined with a more organic style. “Engineering new forms, like hanging planters, keeps me challenged and excited. Even now, I still get a thrill every time I open the kiln.”

Contact:

Email | Phone: 541-514-7080

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