"Clay Artist"
Ira Jon Burhans
Ira Jon Burhans received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1980. Ira’s concentration was in ceramic art with a minor in sculpture. During this period he served an internship at Clayworks Studio Workshop in New York City.
Ira studied the numerous forms of ceramics, functional as well as sculptural and also explored many of the different firing processes that transform the basic raw materials used by a ceramic artist into their final forms. Currently, Ira produces a wide variety of functional wheel thrown altered stoneware pottery.
The result of two decades of hard work in his Palm Harbor, Florida studio has culminated in national recognition for his sculptural and functional work. His work is currently represented in over 100 galleries nationally and has been sold as far away as the Virgin Islands and Guam.
In 1995 Ira along with his wife Barbara and Bill and Linda Renc opened a shared gallery space called Clay and Paper and The Painted Fish Gallery in Dunedin Florida. Clay and Paper and The Painted Fish Gallery is recognized in the Tampa Bay area for exclusively representing American Artist and Crafts persons both locally and nationally known.

"In 2004 I introduced my new stoneware bird teapots and pitchers. The bird like spouts are reminiscent of a spout found on an old watering can and evolved to be more bird like. They were so well received that it started me on a whole new line of pottery...

Most recently, I have been exploring new forms and glazes in stoneware pottery. This new work is functional and designed to be used in everyday life. The pottery has aesthetic curves and textures that are enhanced by the glazes. The curled handles and carved surfaces are influenced by the natural seaside; patterns in the sand when the tide goes out, and the waves curling toward the shore. I have been a professional potter since 1980 and have continually explored new avenues in clay ".
In addition to the time spent in his own creative endeavors, Ira Burhans also serves as an instructor of ceramics at the Dunedin Fine Arts and Cultural Center, Dunedin, Florida since January 1981.