About Kristy

Originally from Illinois, Kristy Winterbourne’s education and professional background is in 3D studio art. While attending Northern Illinois University, she studied jewelry and metalwork, art history, and ceramics. Along with meeting the requirements of her BFA degree, Kristy operated and maintained the Jewelry/Metal Open Studio, was assistant to a jewelry professor, and apprenticed with an independent jeweler. Any time outside of a jewelry studio was spent in the ceramics department. After graduating, she worked as a professional jeweler for several years in Chicagoland. Looking for a change and wanting to work in a more creative environment, Kristy relocated to Arizona to work with a custom jewelry designer. During this time, Kristy’s love for working in clay never subsided. The local clay collective offered the opportunity to continue her education in working at the potter’s wheel.

After pausing her career as a goldsmith and stonesetter to start a family, followed by a halting pandemic, she decided to enroll in a figurative sculpture class. Kristy soon realized that the desire to sculpt, which had been put aside up until this point, was an achievable reality. Through the pliable aspects of working with clay, her refined training and attention to detail, the artist captures minute detail and expression throughout her work. Over the past 4 years her primary focus has been in the area of figurative ceramics, taking opportunities to grow and learn along the way. Her artwork has been locally and nationally recognized in juried exhibitions.