Bosco Bae has been a close friend of clay and pottery wheels across the world since 1998. After working and experiencing studios in Salt Lake City, Boston, Chicago, Icheon, Tokyo, Prague, and Johannesburg; Bosco eventually found himself in the city of Lynchburg. He became a part of the Academy family in 2021 as a Pottery instructor.
“Usually, before I move anywhere, I look for a studio nearby,” he says, “I came across the May Carter Pottery Studio at the Academy and thought I’d check it out. After that first session, I haven’t stopped.”
WATCH BELOW: Bosco Bae on what makes Lynchburg different than other cities
Bosco and Academy Director of Visual Arts, Ted Batt, became fast friends when they quickly bonded over their passion for the wheel. “The moment I met him and saw him throw a pot, I knew we would connect as friends,” voices Ted, “I have heard feedback from a couple of his students and they have all commented that he is an excellent teacher because he takes the time to work with each student and address their questions.”
Bosco enjoys making functional as well as experimental and sculptural work. “The studio has been tremendously meaningful and I’m extremely grateful to Ted for being so welcoming and helping me out,” Bosco remarks, “The studio has been a therapeutic space when I needed it the most.”
When he’s not at the Academy or creating, Bosco is also a visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Lynchburg. Even in his busiest of seasons, he makes a point to come down to the Pottery Studio and create. “I love being in the studio. If I’m not at home or at work, I try to spend as much time as I can in the studio,” he continues, “Everybody is very kind and welcoming. It’s a great space to work on creative projects, have fun, meet people, and learn new things.”
Bosco began his time in Lynchburg in June of 2021, where he discovered the Academy and became an instructor. “I love it,” he says, “teaching is great, it’s a new way of approaching the wheel.”
WATCH BELOW: Bosco Bae on being an instructor at the Academy
As someone who depends on art and physically going to a space to create, Bosco found the COVID-19 pandemic to be especially difficult. “The pandemic has created a lot of feelings in people, I do think having a creative outlet is a need,” he says, “I think it’s becoming a venue for people to really reconnect and do it in a creative way, to learn from people and have fun and just try to build what it means to be human through art.”
“Particularly during the pandemic, we have seen quite a surge of new students,” continues Batt, “I have to believe that one way people deal with the stress of daily living is to escape to place where they can create and make something beautiful. The Academy provides a place to be creative and have success!”
Check out Bosco’s artwork on Instagram at @potsbosco.
Stay tuned for the remaining Fall Campaign Stories … coming soon!
