Christine NofChissey McHorse

These are breathtaking aren't they? Talk about a master of forms and surface. Whew!

(images via Clark + DelVecchio, Australian Ceramics, and Ceramic Vision)

Virgil Ortiz

Virgil Ortiz is an artist from the Cochiti Pueblo in what is now Northern New Mexico. The people of the Cochiti Pueblo are part of a long tradition and history of American Indian potters. Their specific graphic, polychrome style has developed over 300 hundred years with strong influences from neighboring tribes. Growing up in this tradition, Ortiz began working in clay as a small child, only to realize as a teenager that the craft he was so familiar with was, by many, considered art. At this point his unique style emerged and took him in a more personal direction. I am a huge fan of traditional pottery from the native cultures of New Mexico. The boldness, geometry, and juxtaposing complexity and simplicity of the designs are just so spectacular. Ortiz's figurative style, which is blatantly sexual in nature, is like a shot of testosterone in these pots- elevating them from a level of kick-ass to complete-annihilation. To view more of the artist's work including sculptural pieces, visit his website.

(images via Ceramic Arts Foundation and Clark+DelVecchio)

Nobuhito Nishigawara

Uh. Super-rad. I love it when artists combine different cultural elements in their work. It brings a strong sense of intellect and a deeper conversation to the art. Nishigawara went to school at the Kansas City Art Institute and Arizona State University and is now Assistant Professor at Cal State Fullerton.

(images via artist's own website and Arizona State Univerisity)

Diego Romero

Yes that is Bart Simpson and Shrek and Garfield. Read more about Diego Romero here. He is a fascinating artist.

(images via Clark + Del Vecchio)