Artist’s Statement

Get lured to the Morean Center for Clay for “Catch of the Day,” a show by Nina Samuels that is sure to make a splash! This exhibition transforms the gallery into a whimsical fish market where visitors can shop for ceramic artwork inspired by the ocean’s industries. This playful nod to the commodification of nature reflects the ways we assign value to the living world. Revisit the nostalgia of a Florida tchotchke shop that nods at how nature is packaged, priced, and consumed in modern culture. 

About Nina Samuels

Nina Samuels is a ceramics and mixed media sculptor working with natural materials, sustainable practices, and ecological themes. Coming From Savannah, Georgia, she uses wild clay and other natural materials she has foraged across the southeast. Her work is inspired by the land, sea, and fauna of the natural world.

She received her BFA from Georgia Southern University in 2024. She has attended workshops, work-studies, and/ or residencies at Penland, Arrowmont, Peters Valley, Snow Farm, and the VCAC.

She is currently an artist in residence at the Morean Center for Clay where she is creating work inspired by the native sea life. She also creates ceramic sculptures that are submerged underwater and serve as an artificial marine reef for organisms.