Meet Caroline Maddox | Artist, Yogi, Writer & Vice President of Advancement for South Arts
We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline Maddox and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Caroline, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For as long as I can remember art has been at the center of my life. From a young age, I danced, sang, and played the piano but did not dabble much in the visual arts until college. While pursuing a degree in art history at the University of Georgia, I took a few classes in painting and drawing. Then my junior year, I was introduced to clay by Brad Miller while studying abroad in Cortona, Italy. I loved the clay so much, I came home and added studio art as a major. The next two years I spent countless hours learning a variety of ways to work in clay. I was enchanted by the medium and fell in love with the process. I would completely lose track of time in the studio. It was all I could think about. It was everything.
When it came time to graduate, I shared with my parents that I wanted to continue studying ceramics but was encouraged to consider an alternative path that was in alignment with art history and could eventually pay my bills, so I moved to New York to study art business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, which led to a career in museums.
I kept up with a studio practice for a while, but as my responsibilities at work increased and my young family grew, I rarely had time to focus on anything creative. I was surrounded by art all the time and thought I was filling my cup, and carving out the space and time to make work seemed like a distant dream.
Then in 2021 after suffering from severe burnout, I decided to take a break from museums and return home to Georgia to reconnect with my roots and what inspires me. On my first day without a job, I found myself at the wheel in a community studio throwing pots for 6 hours. After more than a decade without touching clay, it rocked my world again. It was the most amazing feeling. I was overflowing with joy. I could not believe that I had let go of something that I loved so much for so long. Little did I know then, it was the beginning of a new chapter in my creative life.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I always felt like an imposter in art school and never really considered myself an artist until recently. Being an art student was a very challenging, humbling experience. I came into most classes with little to no experience unlike most of my peers, and critiques were often brutal. It took a great deal of time and persistence to learn the skills and find ways to express myself, but through it all I fell in love with the process, which has been the most rewarding part.
If you can let go of the outcome and create for the process, it becomes easier to tap into your creative flow and let go of whatever doesn’t work out. In working with ceramic, many things often don’t work out. For me, this lesson has changed my life in profound and meaningful ways well beyond my studio.
My work is inspired by what’s growing around me, so designs change seasonally. My creative practice is connected to my yoga practice. I intentionally slow down to find beauty in the moment such as flowers in my yard or at the farmer’s market that I then draw, paint and carve onto the surface of a ceramic object that I have thrown at the wheel.
Sharing both yoga and art with the world brings me fulfillment and a sense of purpose. Through both practices I have become more present and found inner peace and a deep appreciation for the beauty that surrounds me. My highest goal is to convey this in my work and inspire others to slow down and find gratitude for nature and the simple pleasures in life.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friend was visiting I would take them to museums, galleries, and other art spaces in my community. We would also spend time in nature. Georgia is warm most of the year, and there is always something blooming that I find enchanting.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to all the women in my life that encouraged and supported me along the way. From my teachers in dance, voice and piano who planted the seeds that grew into a deep love for the arts to the professors who offered a critical eye and guided my path, you all deeply impacted my journey. I’d also like to dedicate my shoutout to the women who mentored and encouraged me throughout my career, especially my LA mamas. I would not be where I am today without your ongoing support! To the amazing women at Southern Star Studios who taught me more about clay in a year than I ever thought I could learn, I am so grateful for you all and the community we share. And lastly, I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my mother and grandmother. Both instilled in me a love of the arts and of nature, which has inspired me to make work that celebrates the beauty that surrounds us all. 
Website: https://www.carolinemaddox.com/
Instagram: @carolinemaddox
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-maddox-467329138
Image Credits
Harper Davison
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