About Leslie Messersmith

My studio, Locust Hill Pottery, is in Mechanicsville, Va. My early training in production pottery began as an apprentice in North Carolina at a family owned pottery.  This training and an additional B.A. in sculpture from VCU have carried me on a path to creating beautiful, functional pottery. I also enjoy making sculptural, decorative objects. I use many different ceramic processes to create my work and am inspired by the natural world and by the rich history of ceramics worldwide. I have created and sold reproduction items to a number of historical locations in their gift shops including Williamsburg and Jamestown. I have had my work in the Virginia Museum Shop, 43rd St. Gallery in Richmond, VA., Touch of Earth in Williamsburg, VA. and Sophia Street Gallery in Fredericksburg, VA. I have participated in numerous craft shows over the years in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

I participate in several regional craft shows annually. I have been selected for juried shows in Richmond, VA., Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Mathews, VA. You can currently see my work in these Virginia galleries: Spoke and Art in Williamsburg and Re-Funkit in Ashland. I taught in Richmond Public Schools for 15 years as a ceramic and sculpture specialist and taught Wheel Throwing for Adults at Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center for 22 years. I am currently teaching workshops at the Bay School in Mathews, VA., Arthaus Studios, Midlothian, VA and I occasionally teach workshops in my home studio.