ABOUT
THE ARTIST
John Born started Humble Matter in 2014 after escaping from the world of advertising—thanks to his amazing wife. Not a New York native, but definitely a transplant who’s taken hold, John has lived in Brooklyn since moving to New York in 1993. An avid runner and beach lover, John can be found running throughout Brooklyn or relaxing on the beaches of Truro, MA with his family (aforementioned amazing wife, 2 brilliant but loud children, uber stylish step-daughter and charming son-in-law)...when he’s not in the studio. John has a BFA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is extremely thankful for the gift that is Humble Matter.
THE STUDIO
Humble Matter is based out of Wedge Ceramics, a membership studio and wonderful community of ceramicists located on the reassuringly rough-and-tumble border between Clinton Hill and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Humble Matter is powered by the talent, dedication, patience and good humor of John’s fellow makers Stephanie Gandelman, Beatrice Field and Rebecca Hsu. Follow their exploits respectively on Instagram at @ghostesstheband @nicestvices @rebsart.
THE WORK
At the heart of functional ceramics is the creation of proxies for humans--vessels that reference the original vessel. They become the tools which improve upon or do the work we cannot do: carry water, store food, display items of beauty or value. These are jobs as old as time, and bonds which connect the past to the present; the present to the future; and ultimately, the future back to the past. Humble Matter pieces use a vocabulary of repeated shapes in an attempt to create archetypal forms that feel like an inevitable part of this continuum. They not only serve a purpose as functional pieces, but as talismans that ground us in the magic and importance of everyday objects and rituals in an increasingly disconnected and digitized world.
