Hannah Burnisky, artist. Photos by Kate Prince
A native of Western North Carolina, ceramic artist Hannah Burnisky has spent more than a decade working with clay, creating functional ceramics inspired by the forests, trails and mountain landscapes that shaped her childhood. Today, as founder of Cold Mountain Ceramics in Canton, she continues to translate those experiences into pieces designed to bring a sense of nature into daily life.
“Growing up in these mountains in an era before screens, my brothers and I had plenty of time to explore and play,” Burnisky says. “From forging our own trails to bushcrafting our own forts, creating woodland ceramic wares feels like it was ingrained in me from the beginning. Being outside with my imagination was my favorite place to be.”
That sense of wonder remains central to her work. Her vessels are crafted for everyday use, but they are also meant to serve as reminders of the natural world that inspired them.
“I hope the earthy colors and textures encourage [people] to slow down, if only for a moment, and reconnect to a fond memory or feeling from nature when they were fully present with themselves,” Burnisky says. “I hope it brings them the same sense of peace it brings me.”
In August 2021, Burnisky opened Cold Mountain Art Collective in downtown Canton as an interdisciplinary art and ceramic studio. The space has grown into a gathering place for artists and makers, even as it endured repeated setbacks from flooding that required rebuilding efforts.
Through those challenges, Burnisky found herself reevaluating how she spent her time and energy.
“Most importantly, it taught me to stop delaying my own art,” Burnisky says. “I was spending so much of my time teaching classes or working the retail gallery to cut labor costs that I left myself very little time to create for myself. After Helene, I made a promise to restructure so that I was able to play and explore as a full-time artist again and it was the best decision I ever made.”
That perspective has also reinforced her belief in the importance of creative spaces, particularly in small mountain communities like Canton. While shared studios provide affordable opportunities for artists, Burnisky believes their impact extends much further.
“Particularly for a blue-collar town like Canton, they strengthen the fabric of a community by providing a place to connect with other creatives, collaborate or learn from one another and, ultimately, encourage a sense of purpose or belonging,” Burnisky says.
Cold Mountain Arts Collective is located at 33 Adams Street, Canton. Hannah Burnisky is represented by Gallery of the Mountains, at 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville. Learn more at ColdMtnCeramics.com and GalleryoftheMountains.com.
