Maddison Graybill

Bio: Maddison grew up in a small town in Colorado, where she first discovered her love for clay in high school. She went on to earn a BA in Ceramics from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. After graduating, Maddison spent the summer at Touchstone Center for Craft in Farmington, Pennsylvania. She later relocated to Western North Carolina to begin an artist residency at Odyssey ClayWorks in Asheville. After completing the program, Maddison established her own studio in Black Mountain, NC, where she continues to create and explore her ceramic practice.

Artist Statement: My primary studio practice revolves around creating ceramic balloon replicas, playful, glossy sculptures with the tagline “guaranteed to never deflate.” I’ve developed over 50 plaster molds to slip-cast these forms, starting with balloon letters and expanding into a growing collection of hearts, stars, classic round balloons, and flowers. My work explores permanence through objects typically seen as fleeting.

In addition to balloons, I’ve created 26” ceramic gummy bears, a mixed media stool series, and large-scale pieces like a five-foot disco ball installation. Each piece plays with nostalgia, celebration, and the idea of an everlasting party.