Artwork copyright Nicholas Bivins. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Nicholas Bivins. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Nicholas Bivins. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Coffee (2), Red Tray, 2013

Nicholas Bivins
(American, born 1978)

Location: Peninsula College, Port Angeles

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Coffee (2), Red Tray by Nicholas Bivins is a handmade, ceramic coffee serving set. Bivins often creates highly usable, ceramic serverware like this coffee set—items that are usually mass-produced. His ceramics look “perfect” and sleek, but they are handmade, one at a time. He is interested in the idea of “perfectly handmade” and notes that “The act of making allows me to practice my craft repeatedly while looking for the nuance of how much evidence of handwork I put in and how much hand I take out.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Peninsula College.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nicholas Bivins is a Tacoma-based ceramic artist. He makes highly functional, uniquely handmade objects for everyday use.
Bivins earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University. He has worked as an artist-in-residence at the Red Lodge Clay Center and Archie Bray Foundation, both in Montana. He is lives in Tacoma, Western Washington, and teaches high school ceramics, photography, and visual art.