Gregory Engel creates clay works that enhance both outdoor and interior spaces, infusing beauty and whimsy into everyday life.

As a physician, epidemiologist, and activist who has lived and worked in South and Southeast Asia, Africa and Central America, I draw inspiration from diverse cultures for my sculptures and vessels. I am dedicated to the belief that art has the power to transform communities, fostering connection and social cohesion. Among my notable public-facing projects is the Ravenna Trollbooth, featuring over 500 clay figures displayed in front of my home in Ravenna.

From the moment I first handled clay I was smitten. And, for the past forty years we’ve seldom been separated, from my medical school dorm room to my work in Burundi and Liberia with Doctors Without Borders. Clay is universal. Every culture uses clay in some way. For me clay is freedom and a gateway to imagination. Each clay body has unique characteristics: feel, smell, color, reaction to heat. I find inspiration in the substance itself and in the places and cultures in which I’ve lived.

The sculptures themselves exploit the unique properties of stoneware and natural clays, combining different techniques: wheel throwing, slab building, pinching and nerikomi, a method that involves stacking and slicing different colored clays. Most of my pieces are fired in my electric kiln. They are suitable for indoor and outdoor display.

My goal is to create ceramics that enhance both private spaces and public areas, adding beauty and charm to everyday environments. I happily accept commissions.