Face Jug Series

Face Jugs is a sculptural series that explores the intersection of history, identity, and narrative within the context of the Black experience. Rooted in the legacy of enslaved African American potters—many of whom left behind little more than the vessels they shaped—this body of work honors those silent histories and reclaims the power of material as memory.

Each piece takes the form of a hybrid vessel: the body of a milk jug serves as the foundation, topped with a sculpted bust. This blending of form evokes both the utilitarian and the personal, the domestic and the ancestral. The use of the milk jug references contemporary life, nourishment, and survival, while the busts call back to traditional face vessels made by enslaved artisans in the American South—one of the few artistic expressions allowed to carry traces of individuality and resistance.

In an era where historical narratives are increasingly challenged or erased, these jugs act as vessels of preservation. They hold stories, emotion, and presence—keeping memory alive through clay. The series bridges ancestral tradition with contemporary expression, serving as a reflection on how identity is shaped, lost, remembered, and reclaimed across generations.

Through this work, I aim to create a space where history is not only acknowledged, but felt—where ceramics becomes both a cultural archive and a living voice. Face Jugs is an ongoing exploration of resilience, storytelling, and the enduring power of Black material culture.