Suze’s entrance to the world of craft started in New Orleans when she was working as a teacher in the public school system after completing a degree in special education at Penn State and receiving a Montessori teaching certificate. She began her journey as a hobby potter, taking classes at a rec center one day a week, inspired by a potter at a local craft show. She was encouraged to take a summer workshop at Penland School of Craft, where she humorously remembers her first teacher telling her not to quit her day job, when she shared her dreams to have a career as a studio potter! Providentially, she applied for and was accepted as a two year CORE fellow (1987- 1989) at Penland School of Craft. She followed this up with a MFA from Louisiana State University. Her studio practice was bolstered after completing three years as an artist in residence at Penland School. She and Kent worked together to build Fork Mountain Pottery and their work and lives intertwined, grew and thrived for twenty five years. Suze continues her life as a studio potter, forging ahead despite the loss of her beloved partner.  

When she is crafting pots, she subtly suggests figure and character by manipulating forms after they are thrown. She rolls out clay slabs and uses them to hand build elements that are then assembled with thrown parts to create pieces that have a personality of their own. Suze likes to experiment and play with form and proportion on functional ware by altering and stacking parts. When she decorates the surfaces with slips and glazes, she is very interested in making the marks and designs enhance the volume of each pot. She is inspired by historical pots from many cultures, including Japan, Crete, Chile, China, and native North American. The pots she responds to may be a quirky Pre-Columbian animal ewer or the sophisticated designs of a Mimbres bowl.