The Story Behind the Work: Jesse Fales’ Wildlife Ceramics

Jesse Fales’s precious ceramics are shaped by her life on her family ranch in Wyoming.

Born in Cody and raised on the Northfork of the Shoshone River in Wapiti Valley, daughter of outfitters and dude ranchers, Jesse Fales spent her entire childhood outdoors on pack trips going deep into the wilds of the Absaroka Mountains. Rimrock Dude Ranch has been her home since she was 14, and she has spent every summer riding horses around Shoshone National Forest and Yellowstone National Park. She started making sculptural functional ceramics in 2002.

Drawing from memory and observation, she brings the wild animals she encounters in her life into her ceramic forms. As a sculptor working in traditional ceramic forms, Fales finds inspiration in the majestic animals and rich cultural heritage of the Rocky Mountain region. Her functional ceramic sculptures blend simple, timeless forms like bowls and vases with intricate, complex depictions of iconic animals such as horses, deer, moose, and bison.

This juxtaposition of delicate and rough, quiet and playful elements reflects the beauty and ruggedness of the natural world. Drawing from ancient pottery forms and techniques, Fales work celebrates the harmony between nature and human experience, inviting viewers to connect with the land and its inhabitants. Through her art, she aims to capture the essence of the Rocky Mountains’ wild beauty and the enduring spirit of its creatures. 

See these pieces and more at their Holiday Open House, which is held on Saturdays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm from late November to mid-December. Join them at 1244 Sunshine Ave in Cody.

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