About the Artist

AnnMarie Cooper is a gallerist and studio potter in Bellingham, Washington. After taking a job at Good Earth Pottery gallery in 2009, clay and its spirited community became pivotal in her life. In addition to becoming owner of Good Earth Pottery in 2016, AnnMarie makes ceramics, teaches classes and workshops, leads wood-firings, has her work included in several books, and manages the award-winning artist mentorship program, Cohorts.Art.  She's also an active member of the Washington Clay Arts Association and Co-Founder of Whatcom Artists of Clay & Kiln (WACK).
 
AnnMarie's path into clay began on the potter's wheel, but after a workshop in coil-building, she abandoned the wheel and devoted her efforts to hand-building and developing her signature style of ceramics, driven by the desire to create surfaces that enchant the eye and invite touch by incorporating the decorative and textural elements into the body of a piece. Her studio journey continued into slab-building, which lead to sculpting owls, and then after more than a decade specializing in coils, AnnMarie reunited with the potter's wheel, enjoying the exploration and challenges of this fork in her artistic avenue.

For many years,  AnnMarie finished her work in soda and wood-fired kilns, relishing their atmospheric effects and the shared community experiences.  More recently she's pivoted her pottery practice back to the electric kiln, and now works in hand-carved porcelain. The bright white clay showcases her vibrant colored glazes or when left unglazed, offers a cozy, satiny finish begging to be held.

In 2027, AnnMarie will retire from Good Earth Pottery and focus her attention on pottery making. Stay tuned for the continued evolution of AnnMarie's work coming out of Starflower Studios.

I am a lifelong Washingtonian. I grew up in Edmonds, just north of Seattle; attended college in Bellingham, and even dipped my toe in Eastern Washington life for a couple of years before eventually settling back in beloved Bellingham to raise my family. Living in Bellingham includes the best of all things PNW: mountains, forests, saltwater beaches, boat rides, wildlife, pottery.

My favorite childhood memories feature family time alongside rivers and lakes and fishing with my dad. An avid birdwatcher for most of my life, I have an especial bond with owls due in part to my grandma's affection for them--in addition to my own many encounters. I love where I live and decorating my work with the familiar imagery of the sights around me brings me comfort and creates connection with those who feel the same.

It's not all Pacific Northwest based though. Becoming a potter and growing my community through clay has created numerous opportunities for travel. Those life-enriching adventures fill me with gratitude; providing connections, education, and artistic subject matter.

As an artist, my energy comes from creating. I love the process of making: the challenges, the successes, even the failures that help me learn and do better. Sometimes, the work is therapeutic. I am deeply connected with clay. I love what I do and am thrilled when someone else loves it too. I strive to make ceramics that please both the eye and the hand to become part of your daily life.

-AnnMarie

  • 2025
    -Taught workshop at Clayhouse in Anacortes, WA
    -Taught workshop at Baker Creek Ceramics in Bellingham, WA
    -"Last Call X" Juried by Carly Slade, Companion Gallery, Tennessee

    2024
    -"Fowl Play" at Smith-Vallee Gallery, Edison, WA
    -Taught workshop at CeramX Studio in Gold Coast, Australia
    -Assisted with Anagama Firing Workshop at Arcadia Cooroy

    2022

    -Taught workshop at River Song Pottery in Illinois

    2021
    -"Beyond the Construct" Juried by Brett Binford, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR
    -"Women of Woodfire" Juried by Brett Binford, Lindsay Oesterritter & Careen Stoll, Eutectic Gallery, Portland, OR
    -"Unmasked: Imagining New Beginnings", Group Exhibition Featuring Whatcom Artists of Clay and Kiln (WACK)
    Allied Arts of Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA
    -"Who I Am", Solo Exhibition at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA
    -"Bowls to Fill" Group Exhibition  (and fundraiser for the Bellingham Food Bank) featuring Whatcom Artists of Clay and KIln (WACK) at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA

    2020
    -"In Cahoots" Co-Feature at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA

    2019
    -Juried Cup Show,Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (Guest Juror Katie Bosley)
    -"Vessels for Drinking",  a collaborative show between Clay Arts Vegas and the University of North Dakota (Guest Juror, Tara Wilson. )
    -Clay Extravaganza  - Whatcom Artists of Clay & Kiln (WACK), Bellingham, WA
    -"You've Been Served", Urban Forage Cidery, Minneapolis, MN
    -"Balancing Act"- Featured artist at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham, WA
    -Phinney Winter Festival & Crafts Fair, Seattle, WA

    2018
    -"Bountiful"- Washington Clay Arts (WCA) Exhibition at Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA (Juried by Tara Wilson)
    -"Annual Juried Cup Show"- Jansen Art Center, Lynden, WA
    -"Cooperate, Collaborate, Create" Whatcom Artists of Clay & Kiln (WACK) exhibit at Allied Arts Gallery, Bellingham
    -"What Goes Bump in the Night"- Clay Arts Vegas, Las Vegas, NV (Guest Juror Brad Blair)
    -Taught workshop at Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA

    2017
    -Clay Extravaganza!- Whatcom Artists of Clay & Kiln (WACK), Bellingham
    -Cup Show 2017-  Clay Arts Vegas, Nevada (Guest Juror, Nolan Baumgartner)
    -"Images on Clay"- Clay Arts Vegas, Nevada (Guest Juror, Jason Bige Burnett)
    -"Soda2"- Mantle Gallery, Kentucky (Juried by Patrick Rademaker)
    -"Annual Juried Cup Show"- Jansen Art Center, Lynden, WA
    -"We are WACK"- Allied Arts Gallery, Bellingham
    ​-"Magical Menagerie"- Featured Artist at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham
    -PNA Winter Festival & Crafts Fair, Seattle
    -Kirkland Arts Center Holiday Art Market, Kirkland

    2016
    -Winterfest, Gifts Inspired by Nature, Bellingham
    -Tractor Tavern Handmade Arcade, Seattle
    -Phinney Winter Festival, Seattle
    -SeaFeast, Bellingham
    -"Stories on Clay" at Morean Clay Center, Florida (Juried by Sue Tirrell)
    -Wedgwood Art Festival, Seattle
    -"Annual Juried Cup Show"- Jansen Art Center (3rd Place People's Choice Award Winner!)
    -"Taste of Summer"- WCA Members Show, Trackside Gallery, Spokane (Juried)
    -Clay Extravaganza!- Whatcom Artists of Clay & Kiln (WACK) presented Festival of Clay Experience, Bellingham
    -"Serving Sweets" - Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham (Featuring members of Whatcom Artists of Clay & Kiln)
    -"First Impressions" -  WCA Members Show, Burien Press, Burien, WA (Juried by Sam Scott)

    2015
    -Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts, Bellingham
    -Bellstock, Bellingham
    -Pottery Northwest Student Show, Seattle
    -Crafts by the Dock,  Port Townsend
    -Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds (picture)
    -"Get the Scoop!" - WCA/Pottery Northwest, Seattle (Juried by Jennifer Allen)
    -"Garnish"- May Featured Artist, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham
    -"Quintessential"  - WCA Tri-County Exhibition, Bellingham
    -"WCA Steinfest" - Bellingham, WA (Juried by Jason Walker)
    -Taught workshop at Moshier Art Center in Burien, WA

    2014
    -Fa-la-la Holiday Sale of Fine Arts & Crafts, Schack Arts Center, Everett
    -Phinney Ridge Winter Festival, Seattle
    -Redmond Clay Studio & WCA Assoc. Holiday Show & Sale, Redmond- (Juried by Julia Galloway)
    -Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, Bellingham
    -"Of Fish and Feathers" - Juried Artists Show, Allied Arts of Whatcom Co., Bellingham
    -"Spooky Ceramics" - Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham
    -Anacortes Farmers Market, Anacortes 
    -Fresh Paint, Festival of Artists at Work, Everett
    -Sorticulture, Everett
    -Juried Cup Show, Jansen Art Center, Lynden 
    -Isaac Howard & Friends, An Exhibition of Wood-Fired Ceramics, Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham 
    -WCA 2014 Winter Social Art Exhibition, Seattle

    2013
    -Fa-La-La Holiday Sale of Fine Arts & Crafts, Everett
    -Phinney Ridge Winter Festival, Seattle
    -Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts, Bellingham
    -"Sinuosity" October Featured Artist at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham
    -Whatcom Artist Studio Tour, Bellingham
    -Art in the Pearl Festival, Portland
    -Bellwether Arts Market, Bellingham
    -"On the Edge" - Juried Artists Show, Allied Arts of Whatcom Co., Bellingham
    -Juried Cup Show, Jansen Art Center, Lynden
    -Juried Gallery, Edmonds Arts Festival, Edmonds
    -WCA Annual Members Show, Seattle
    -"Stoked!"- An Exhibition of Wood-fired Ceramics at Good Earth Pottery, Bellingham-Members' Show at Allied Arts of Whatcom Co., Bellingham

    2012
    -Downtown Bellingham Art Walk, KCLT Office, Bellingham
    -Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts, Bellingham
    -WCA Fiesta de los Muertos, Seattle 
    -Bellwether Arts Market, Bellingham

Rooted in the historic Fairhaven District of Bellingham, WA since 1969, the gallery represents local and international contemporary artists. You might encounter AnnMarie in the gallery when you visit!
1000 Harris Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225
www.goodearthpots.com

In 2021, AnnMarie joined forces with Simon Levin as manager of Cohorts.Art.
Click here to read about this exciting, rapidly expanding art education program!

In 2025, AnnMarie moved her studio from her tiny backyard shed to the Downtown Arts District of Bellingham and established Starflower Studios.

She rents space in the studio to four other arists and hosts visiting artist workshops and other events.


120 Prospect St., Ste. 4, Bellingham, WA 98225
www.starflowerbellingham.com