Bio
Hammond Whiting—known as Ham—is a Midwest-based multimedia artist originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, specializing in Ceramics with a minor in Art History, from Truman State University in 2024.
Originally a chemistry major, Whiting brings a scientific curiosity and experimental mindset to his studio practice. He is particularly drawn to glaze chemistry, developing glazes from raw materials, and working with stains and oxides to create layered surfaces. For him, ceramics exists in the space where science and transformation meet—where careful material research can yield results that feel almost magical.
While ceramics remains his primary focus, Whiting considers himself a multidisciplinary artist driven by process. In addition to clay, he works in photography and illustration, continually exploring new materials and methods. His practice is grounded in experimentation, documentation, and a desire to understand how surface, form, and image interact.
Artist Statement
The principle of alchemy drives my artistic practice: the transmutation of the ordinary into the extraordinary. I aim to craft pieces that bridge the gap between ceramics, magic, and illustration.
My work is rooted in my identity as a practicing Pagan, where respect for nature is fundamental. I embrace the experimental by using foraged materials, such as wild clay, wood, and cicada ash, stains, and oxides to create surfaces grounded in the natural world. I work to include natural imagery as well by illustrating the native wildflowers, grasses, birds, and insects of my home in the Midwest. By focusing on local species, I celebrate the magic inherent in my immediate environment.
Other times, I incorporate hidden runes or messages in a code of my own invention dubbed hamscript. I create my pieces with intention, sometimes layering magic as the act of creation, forming a vessel from start to finish. I also take inspiration from the shapes and rituals surrounding historical pieces or burial objects, particularly woodcuts and medieval manuscripts.
Ultimately, I strive to infuse every piece with the natural magic that is essential to me. I invite viewers to be immersed in this fantastical world, connecting them to the omnipresence of magic and revealing its potential for anyone to access.