Brandon Reese | Artist Feature
May 14, 2024
At the heart of Reese's artistic philosophy is a deep appreciation for process. Each piece bears the marks of its creation - fingerprints, cuts, dents, and textures serve as a roadmap of the sculpture's journey from conception to completion. This emphasis on the beauty of imperfection and the value of experience aligns perfectly with Reese's belief that life's greatest rewards lie in the journey rather than the destination. As an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, Reese continues to push the boundaries of ceramic art while inspiring the next generation of artists to embrace experimentation and honor the creative process.
"My current works are constructed of salt glazed stoneware and reclaimed native wood. I combine the clay and wood to bring emphasis to both materials and to make the viewer more aware of the characteristics of each. My work is motivated by life. An amalgamation of memories, images and relationships inspire all that I do..."


"...My work also relates to my belief that the best part of life is the process; and that true success comes when you can wear all of the marks that life leaves with beauty and grace, allowing them to become a part of you and serving as mementos of where you came from and how you got there. My art wears the fingerprints, cuts, dents and other texturing as a roadmap and documentation of its creation."
- Brandon Reese

Commissioned Sculptures

Office Install of Brandon Reese Sculpture

Brandon Reese received his BFA in sculpture from the Kansas City Art Institute, where he gained mastery in bronze, cast iron, steel, wood, and ceramics. During his time in Kansas City, he apprenticed under Jim Leedy before earning his graduate degree in ceramics at Bowling Green State University. While there, Reese had the opportunity to work alongside renowned artists such as Jun Kaneko, Don Reitz, and Peter Voulkos. He focused on salt and wood firing to create unique and varied surfaces on each sculpture.
Upon graduation, Reese was hired by Oklahoma State University as an assistant professor of its newly expanded ceramics department. In addition to teaching, Reese regularly exhibits his large-scale ceramic sculptures. His work has been exhibited in Germany, and Taiwan. Galleries all across the United States represent his work. Additionally, Brandon creates corporate and private commissioned work for high profiled celebrities and clients. He also is a part of several permanent museum collections. Although most of Reese’s exhibitions are ceramic sculpture, he balances teaching the hand-building techniques with wheel throwing pottery and functional vessels.