ABOUT

Gallery 906, located at 906 Castle Street in Wilmington, North Carolina, is an art space founded by Joseph Bounds, an accomplished ceramic artist and painter from North Carolina with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The gallery features a rotating selection of exhibitions of artwork from North Carolina-based artists through both solo and group exhibitions. Gallery 906 aims to showcase the region’s diverse artistic talent and offer a platform for both emerging and established artists.

In addition to its exhibition program, Gallery 906 offers classes and workshops in pottery and painting, providing opportunities for both novice and experienced artists to develop their skills in a collaborative and supportive environment. With a commitment to nurturing the local arts community, Gallery 906 aspires to be a space where creativity thrives, fostering engagement between artists and the wider public.

Joseph Bounds

Visual and Ceramic artist, Gallery 906 Director

Artist Statement

As a ceramic artist, I am drawn to the primal connection between earth, fire, and form. My work is a reflection of my deep respect for nature, influenced by the timeless traditions of Japanese aesthetics, and informed by the history of ceramic works by North Carolina artists. I specialize in wood-fired ceramics, a process that marries unpredictability with the beauty of organic textures and earthy tones. The physicality of shaping clay and the unpredictability of wood-firing mirrors the forces of nature, where each piece becomes a dialogue between my own intent as an artist and the random forces of nature. 

The tactile quality of my work is essential. I find inspiration in the textures of the natural world—the rough bark of trees, the smooth stones in a river, the cracks of parched earth. These elements inform my forms and surfaces, resulting in pieces that invite touch and interaction. Each vessel is not only meant to be seen but held and experienced through the senses, much like the natural objects they reference. 

I find beauty in the imperfect, the transient, and the humble. The subtle variations in color and texture that emerge from the wood-firing process remind me of the fleeting moments in nature and the passage of time. The unpredictability of flame and ash gives each piece its own identity, shaped by its position in the kiln, the type of wood used, and the duration of the firing. No two pieces are ever alike, and this uniqueness is integral to my creative process. 

Through my work, I aim to create a quiet space where nature, tradition, and human touch converge. I hope that my ceramics offer a moment of reflection, a tactile connection to the earth, and an appreciation for the simple yet profound beauty of natural forms and processes.