Burnished Earth: The African Diaspora and Women's Bodies in Clay
An Archive of Contemporary Black Women Ceramicists
Burnished Earth: The African Diaspora and Women's Bodies in Clay is an ongoing research and archival project examining how contemporary Black women artists use clay to explore memory, migration, lineage, labor, and identity. Through exhibition writing, oral histories, studio visits, archival research, and material culture, the project documents ceramic practices across the African diaspora while expanding conversations around Black feminist theory, craft history, and contemporary art.
The Goal of these resources is to gather knoweldge and information around ceramics to build an archive around: gender, archaeology, diaspora.
Suggested Keywords
These are naturally embedded throughout the page rather than listed:
African diaspora
Black women artists
Contemporary ceramics
Ceramic art
Black feminist theory
Material culture
Oral history
Contemporary craft
Curatorial research
Art history
Archive
Memory studies
Exhibition writing
Black visual culture
Clay
Project Overview
Every decision we make is shaped by a clear sense of purpose. Our journey has been anything but ordinary. Through every step, we've focused on staying true to our values and making space for thoughtful, lasting work.
What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead.
Research Questions
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We believe in keeping things simple, smart, and human. Every project starts with listening and ends with something we're proud to share.
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Integrity, creativity, and empathy shape the way we work. These aren't just words—they’re the foundation of everything we build.
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What began as a passion project has evolved into something more. We’re proud of where we’ve been and even more excited for what’s ahead. What sets us apart isn’t just our process—it’s the intention behind it. We take time to understand, explore, and create with purpose at every turn.
Field Notes
Monet Goode
Emmet Marsh
Eleanor Parks
Karl Holland
Jaya Dixon
Join Our Team
Oral Histories
Artists
Curators
Collections and Libraries
Coming Soon
Exhibition Writing
Princeton University | Clay Has Memory: Creative lineages from Africa
substack →
Princeton University | Clay Has Memory: Creative lineages from Africa
substack →
Princeton University | Clay Has Memory: Creative lineages from Africa
substack →
Princeton University | Clay Has Memory: Creative lineages from Africa
substack →
Studio Visits
Monet Goode
Monet is a lifelong educator with a passion for creating accessible, engaging learning experiences. Known for a calm, encouraging teaching style, Monet believes that growth happens when learners feel both challenged and supported.
Emmett Marsh
Emmett is a detail-oriented instructor who’s spent the past decade helping people develop new tools, habits, and mindsets. Their approach is clear, practical, and always infused with curiosity and care.
Eleanor Parks
Eleanor's background spans education, coaching, and creative development. With a strong focus on process and progress, Eleanor helps learners move from where they are to where they want to be—one step at a time.
Publications & Catalogs
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Body Vessel Clay
Catalog
Exhibition touring the UK and US between 2022 and 2025, activating discourse around lineages, community, and thematic
Archive & Resources
Where Ideas Take Shape
Where creativity meets clarity, and vision meets action.
We believe in doing things differently—with intention, with passion, and with people at the center of it all. Every detail here reflects that mindset.
It All
Begins Here
We bring creativity and expertise to everything we do.
Here, creativity meets opportunity. Whatever you're building, we're here to help you take the first step with confidence.
Timeline
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Monet Goode
FOUNDER
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience.
They set the tone for everything we do. -
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Emmett Marsh
SALES MANAGER
Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care. -
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Eleanor Parks
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience. -
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Karl Holland
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.
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Anina Major
ARTIST
“Anina Major (she/her) is a visual artist from the Bahamas. Her decision to establish a home contrary to the location in which she was born and raised motivates her to investigate the relationship between self and place as a site of negotiation.”
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Adebunmi Gbadebo
ARTIST/ CERAMIST
Grounded in historically and culturally significant materials such as indigo dye, human hair collected throughout the African diaspora and soil hand-dug from the True Blue plantation grounds in South Carolina, Adebunmi Gbadebo’s practice is an exploration of heritage.
NicolaVassell.com: Adebunmi Gbadebo
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Aleisha Ellis
ARTIST
Established in Atlanta, Georgia by Afro-Latina ceramicist Aleisha Duchateau. Operating as a one-woman studio, Aleisha blends organic textures and glazes, often featuring distinctive satin rock-like surfaces in earthy tones with occasional vibrant colors. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi and the playful nature of 18th-century European splatterware, her handmade pieces are designed for everyday use, serving as a grounding artistic presence in a naturally tangible world.
📍ATLANTA, GA
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Althea Meade-Hajduk
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Bisola Nola
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Cristina Tufino
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Ebitenyefa Baralaye
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Emma Hart
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London James
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Makeda Smith
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Malene Barnett
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Marissa Y Alexdaner
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Nala C Turner
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Ngozi-Omeje Ezema
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Nicole Awai
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Ottobang Nkanga
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Phoebe Collins-Jenkins
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Sana Musasama
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Simone Leigh
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Selma Hortense Burke
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Shawana Corbett
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Syd Carpenter
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Tiana Tucker
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Tracie Hervy
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Whitney Simpkins
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