Drake Gerber is a ceramic artist from Bowling Green, OH. Drake received his BFA from Bowling Green State University, completed a post-baccalaureate program at the University of Montana, and received his MFA from the University of Montana in 2023.

Drake’s Thesis show “Warmth of the Sun” featured sculptures inspired by objects in the landscape that have caught his eye as well as a sonic element that accompanied the work. Gerber is currently the production lead/studio tech at MMclay in San Francisco.

Artist Statement:

When I find myself in a new place, I am fascinated by the different features of the landscape working together; black rocks supporting entire cliff sides, trees and blue sky collide, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing on soft wet sand that's being imprinted by the water flowing over it. These moments are like visual poetry to me.

A place can be defined by the objects that catch our attention in them. There are points of interest in every landscape and pausing on those points is enough to create an image representing a place. I intend to present moments of clarity paired with abstract elements that create a sense of wonder. Abstracting these environments reflects the curiosity I experienced in these places and demonstrates the idea of memory faded over time.

By making a rock out of wood and sand out of clay, I am changing the way you would normally see these objects. Through my use of materials, I hope to capture an ephemeral moment from the landscape and make the viewer look at the landscape in a different way, perhaps with the same childlike naivety I had when experiencing these places for the first time. 

My work is an attempt to express my sincerity towards a place and hold onto that feeling. I intend to share faded memories of personal experiences through enigmatic sculptures to make the viewer look a bit closer at these objects and see the landscape in a new way.