ABOUT ME

Stevens Point pottery artist Samantha Decker-Hoppen has been honing her ceramics skills for more than 15 years. She brings to her work drawing and painting skills developed throughout her childhood, as well as her experiences living and traveling throughout the United States and abroad. 

 “My life as an artist reflects my human experience. The act of creation is an outward manifestation of my inner journey. I create both sculptural and functional pieces of pottery to complement our daily rituals.”

Samantha’s love of the natural world and her ever-developing spiritual quest have taken form in themes including Seascapes, a celebration of coral reefs, The Dance of Life, which invokes the human potential flowing as dance energy between us all; and Elemental Mothers, a series of statuettes bringing Mother Earth energy into a world dominated by masculine power.

 “I am fermenting years of travel and living among various cultures. Their symbols, myths, and archetypes bubble up in my designs. The name of my workspace, ‘Turtle Rock Studio,’ invokes the turtle’s slow pace while acknowledging the power of our shared home, Earth.”

Her work is both functional and expressive. Elaborate carving and sculpted embellishments create textures that invite touch. Detailed hand-painting reveals these textures to the eye.

“As I shape the clay, the clay shapes me through the elements that bind us. As earth, clay grounds perceptions into what is real and possible. As water, clay reveals openness and susceptibility. As air, clay reinforces the necessity of patience and attention. As fire, clay exposes truth.”

Samantha grew up in Stevens Point and began her ceramics education at Artistry Studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and continued it at New Mexico State University. In 2002, she opened Turtle Rock Studio in Truchas, New Mexico and was a member of the High Road Artisans. In 2009, she moved to Florida and joined the Ceramic League of Miami, where she taught classes on wheel-throwing, sculpture and tile-making. In 2011, Turtle Rock Studio moved to Stevens Point, where Samantha continues to teach and create.