Jeremy Topczewski is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside majoring in ceramics and graphic design, as well as teacher education. Outside of school, he prefers to work as a photographer focusing on wildlife and creating photo series that make statements about the destruction of nature.

Jeremy is a ceramic sculptor rather then potter, and prefers to sculpt in clay because of the flexibility it offers. Unlike materials such as wood or stone, which are subtractive methods of sculpting, ceramics is an additive process, which allows for him to change the pieces as he works without having to know exactly were the piece is headed.

Jeremy usually creates works that focus on some sort of dilemma, or cause and effect situation. The current piece that he is working on, and you will be seeing the process for, is called Shattered City: the Contemplation of Choice. In this piece he is creating a city that will consist of 9 buildings that have been destroyed by some sort of natural disaster. The city will be filled with people who are on opposing sides, one group trying to tear down the buildings and the other trying to save them. These two groups represent the different sides of a choice.

One of the most important tools that Jeremy uses is Buff II clay, which he likes for the high level of grog (an ingredient in the clay that gives it structural support). Aside from the clay, he uses an assortment of clay tools including the needle tool, wooden rib, metal rib, wire tool, sponge, and a clay knife. He also uses a ruler, power drill, metal kitchen fork, and his most trusted tool of all: a handheld pizza cutter.