About Johnnie

   Johnnie Bess is a multimedia artist and educator whom currently specializes in Ceramic Teaware design. The son of two U.S. Marines, Bess is a disciplined idealist, whom chose the artist's way and teaching as his path of service. For over two decades Johnnie has exhibited his work throughout the country and taught visual arts in public schools. While also occasionally facilitating ceramics workshops nationally and internationally from Georgia, to Costa Rica, Kenya and beyond.

   In 2019 Bess was awarded the Oolite Arts, Teacher’s Travel grant to return to Iwakuni, Japan, where he lived as a child, to study the region's 400-year-old style of traditional ceramics known as Hagi ware. Johnnie's current work, like his students' own,  represents a process of sustained investigation and personal inquiry as well as a synthesis of experiences, cultures and resonating aesthetic sensibilities.