Bio

Heather Lee McLelland is a maker based in Cary, North Carolina. She recently moved from Wilmington, NC, where she found her deep connection to working with clay and fire beginning in 2006. Heather is constantly being influenced from her surroundings and traditions growing up in a Korean American household. Ceramics decorated the house and filled the cupboards. Growing up, she had fond memories of being in the kitchen with her mom, smelling and tasting different foods. The table was always full of lots of various dishes with colorful smells. There was always some kind of conversation in the kitchen. Now, food and drink are the centerpiece to finding connections with her family and friends.

 

Born in Seoul, Korea, Heather grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC. In 2002, she received her BA in Psychology with a minor in Art at Elon University. During undergrad, she traveled through the US, Australia, and Europe. She eventually settled in Wilmington, NC, to continue her education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). Looking to reconnect with some of her heritage, Heather did an apprenticeship in Cromarty, Scotland, where she worked with Berbal Dister at Cromarty Pottery.  She has also attended Winter Residency at Penland school of craft and a residency at La Meridiana, in Italy.  In 2020, she received her Master of Arts in Ceramics at East Carolina University. Finishing up teaching a range of Ceramics courses at UNCW, Heather is starting her transition to becoming a full-time artist.