After graduating from Pratt Institute of Art in New York personal travels took Gus McCloskey to Japan, which as an artist, had a profound influence on his style.  Following that inspiration led him to complete several rigorous traditional apprenticeships over a period of 5 years with master potters in a secluded mountainous region on the southern island of Kyushu.  These apprenticeships provided a disciplined foundation for his personal expression. To further understand the intricacies of the culture Gus became fluent in Japanese and studied Ikebana (flower arrangement).  Later he went on to establish his own pottery, participate in national ceramic societies and exhibit in a major Tokyo museum.

About his work Gus McCloskey says this, “Of the aesthetic concepts  deeply rooted in my work one is “Shizen no Sugata” or natural form, this means each shape found in nature has a unique quality all its own, so in terms of my own work I treat each piece this way, as a living form. Another aesthetic concept is called “Tsuchi no Aji” or tastefulness of earth, which suggests that the inherent characteristics of earth (clay) alone are worthy of aesthetic consideration. As an apprentice, digging, refining and preparing handmade clays helped develop in me this sense of selection and appreciation.”

 “During the creative process I envision the entire finished work in my creative eye during all stages of creation.  My intention is to improvise certain traditional Japanese elements, reinterpreting history in a sense,” he explains.  The way of earth is a continual reawakening of our daily routines.  In a cup, we may begin to visualize certain metaphors which have some relevance to our lives.

 “Through my work, I believe there is an invisible link between the heart of the maker and the heart of the user.”