Chris Pate

I was born and raised in central Louisiana, and after earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette I relocated to Portland, Oregon where I lived and worked for nearly 12 years. In the Pacific Northwest I continued my inquires into ceramics, and after being introduced to a thriving artistic community I began to study the wood-fired ceramic process beginning in 2012.

​Since then wood-firing has been my main mode of artistic inquiry and preferred method for finishing my ceramic works. To this day I’ve fired dozens of different wood-fired kilns around the country, have had the opportunity to work with many varied communities, build, repair, and maintain many styles of kiln, and have developed an in-depth understanding of firing techniques.

Currently, I am living and working at the Reitz Ranch Center for Ceramic arts near Cottonwood, AZ as a resident artist where I am focusing on developing new bodies of work amongst the Ranch’s enthusiastic membership. I’m also excited to be working to contribute to the maintenance and growth of this fantastic facility in my time here.

"...Art is not innately a part of human culture alone. Many other creatures create art. My definition of Craft is simply the process of creating Art, and who is to say what art is and what it is not? It is in the eyes and mind of the beholder."