Stephen Abate is a ceramic artist living in Tucson. He was drawn to working with clay because it can be experienced by all five senses. In particular he is attracted to the sense of movement and tactile response clay evokes. Often leaving areas of his work unglazed, he invites you to touch the piece, to interact and connect with it. Every piece is either hand-built or wheel-thrown for individuality and character.

He believes that when working with clay the artist imprints a part of themselves into the work. The final piece is a “snapshot” of that interaction between the artist and clay, which gives each piece its own identity. No two interactions are the same, so no two pieces are the same. Similarly, the hardware he pairs with the ceramic often features unfinished metals, so that it may age and take on a story from the environment in which it's placed.