Todd Marshard is a ceramic artist whose handbuilt work is deeply influenced by the natural rhythms and textures of the island of Paros, Greece, where he now lives full-time. After a long and successful career as a fashion photographer in New York City, Marshard shifted his creative focus to clay, drawn by its tactile immediacy and expressive possibilities. What began as a personal exploration quickly became a new way of life. On Paros, he found a slower pace and a deeper connection to nature, both of which now inform his sculptural and functional ceramic pieces. His forms echo the contours of the island — weathered stone, bleached wood, and Cycladic simplicity — and embrace the irregularities and imperfections of handbuilding. Each piece reflects a quiet dialogue between material, memory, and place.
“My work in ceramics is a meditation on the intersection of material, form, and time. Through the tactile language of clay, I seek to explore both the fragility and resilience inherent in natural and built environments. Each piece is a dialogue between intentional design and the spontaneous, often unpredictable, voice of the kiln — a conversation that honors imperfection, transformation, and the quiet beauty of erosion and growth.
I am drawn to subtle surface textures and restrained palettes that allow the nuances of form and firing to emerge fully. My process often begins with traditional wheel-thrown and hand-building techniques, but evolves through layering, carving, and sometimes controlled distortion, inviting a sense of organic movement. Inspired by landscapes, architecture, and the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, I aim to create vessels and sculptural works that feel both grounded and ethereal — objects that carry a presence beyond their physical weight.
"At its core, my practice is about slowing down, paying attention, and inviting viewers to experience a moment of stillness and reflection through the quiet power of handmade objects.” – Todd Marshard
