Thomas Kilian, potter

It is here at Kilian's studio that the “old” is giving way to the ”new". Thomas Albert Kilian III and his family arrived in Columbia, North Carolina (USA) twelve years ago. Kilian remembers being inspired by the crayfish’s ability to create a cylinder shape, he immediately severed the “chimneys” that the crayfish built, and dried them on planks of wood. To him they were pieces of art. He began digging his own clay, playing around with it, and took interest in pottery almost immediately. While Kilian has not been the only potter to be inspired by nature, he is one of the few North Carolina potters outside of Seagrove to specifically host a gallery, studio and website of his own. In July 2009, Our State Magazine featured an article on the Kilian family entitled “Banking on Art” reporting his families quest to stimulate an artistic economy in the Inner Banks by launching a website that promotes Artists work in the region entitled IBXarts.org. People began to take particular notice of Kilian when he demonstrated his Heritage Pottery on a kick wheel at Historical Somerset Plantation in Creswell, N.C. Susan Kluttz, Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Cultural Resources had visited his booth during the states “Second Saturday’s” event and made a purchase for her collection. Knowing how influential Ms. Susan is and the interest she took in his work was an affirmation to him that he was helping the state preserve something significant. A major difference in Kilian’s work has been based in authenticity. He develops his own glazes and has been unfettered by conventional training. Having a host of natural and historical items among the Inner banks farmstead environment, serves as a wellspring of inspiration that cultivates a personal approach that is uncommon. Ironically his modern design pottery is actually inspired by observations of ancient world pottery. Kilian has been recognized by: V&ACollaborations (The research department of "The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)", which is the world's leading museum of art and of Design, part of a longstanding collaboration with the Royal College of Art.), Robert Hunter, the Chief Editor of Ceramics in