New Artist | John Wenzel

John Wenzel

New Osmosis artist, John Wenzel, is a master ceramicist whose career has been shaped by curiosity, determination, and an undeniable passion for clay.

Growing up in Lorain, Ohio, John didn’t have access to formal art education in his early years. That didn’t stop him. When an art class was finally approved in ninth grade, he and his classmates soon discovered that they were, quite literally, on their own—led not by an art teacher but by the school’s basketball coach, who admitted he knew nothing about the subject. Despite this unconventional start, John thrived, later studying art at Ohio University, where an introduction to ceramics changed everything.

From there, a love for clay took hold. While painting and design were integral to his studies, the tactile nature of working with ceramics felt like home. The opportunity to take over the ceramics department at Ohio University was tempting, but the lure of the West—and the chance to build a life as a working artist—was stronger. In 1965, he opened his first studio in Los Angeles and never looked back.

Now based in Louisville, Colorado, John continues to push the boundaries of ceramic art. His signature brushwork glazing technique merges the spontaneity of abstract painting with the functional beauty of stoneware pottery. Every piece is a balance of form and expression, a testament to decades of craftsmanship and experimentation.

Beyond the studio, his work has also become a family affair. Many of his utilitarian pieces are created for his son, Chef Elan Wenzel’s Denver-based business, The Element Knife Company. With a spouse and daughter also deeply involved in the arts, creativity is woven into the fabric of their family.

We are thrilled to showcase John Wenzel’s work at Osmosis Gallery. His journey is an inspiring reminder that art is not just about talent—it’s about persistence, exploration, and the willingness to follow one’s passion wherever it leads.