Matt Brej's path to pottery started with a wrong turn. 

Twenty years ago, he was grinding through gen-ed requirements for a math and science degree at Elgin Community College when he stumbled into the ceramics studio and signed up for an elective. His professor introduced the first class with a line Brej still remembers: "This course is going to change your life." 

That declaration proved prescient. Fed up with calculus and drawn to what he'd later describe as "the beauty of creating form from the earth," Brej switched majors and never looked back. He went on to earn several degrees, picking up mentors along the way.

He also picked up a lot of knowledge. Brej still loves applying that knowledge, saying that “chemistry finally made so much more sense when applied to ceramics.”

Today, he’s grateful for the opportunity to wear many hats — from chemist to kiln wizard — as a Fine Line Creative Arts Center teacher and ceramics studio manager. 

Brej’s creative process is intuitive and tends to happen organically. Constantly sifting through motifs and form studies, he might work on a piece of functional pottery one day and switch to a small hand-built sculpture the next. 

Recently he’s been playing with earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain, all clay bodies that react in different ways. A passionate carver, he finds serenity in the process and always appreciates the subtle changes he discovers when he handles the finished pieces. 

Glazes are important in his work. Brej uses multiple colors of underglaze beneath a clear glaze to add details to the carved designs, giving them a nice crisp edge. He says he loves “all the colors” but particularly enjoys the challenge of good copper red from a reduction firing — elusive but satisfying. 

Brej emphasizes that pottery requires a flexible approach because so many variables can influence the results. 

“Every time I open a kiln, I get a surprise. Was it in a hot spot? Did it get heavily reduced?” he said. “Did the glaze materials change a bit? Again? Was the glaze applied thickly? Maybe a bit too thin?” 

After going through that process, sometimes even he’s surprised by the final piece, which makes him appreciate it even more. 

Carving and surface design are hallmarks of Brej’s work with clay. 

“I’ve often thought and talked about the pot/sculpt in an anthropomorphic sense, and I suppose it’s an interesting way to think about what makes us human,” he said. “Sometimes you take a little away, sometimes you add a little bit. But we’re still the same at our core even with the changes.” 

His style has evolved over time, but there’s a common denominator in all of his work: the momentary experience of creation. He experiments sometimes, exploring new ways of layering surface designs and trying new clay recipes. 

Brej has learned not to compare his progress to others, believing  that each potter should follow their own journey at their own pace.

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m just trying to be a better maker today than I was yesterday.”

Music is one of his major influences, which is why he always has something playing in the studio. 

“It quiets my mind and brings a bit of presence to the art, helps me focus my antenna,” he said. 

He juggles many projects at once, noting that clay dries at different rates and there are down times for each piece. He embraces the variety. 

“Some days are focused on trimming, some days are throwing days,” Brej said. “Some days you add things together, some days you just carve. Some days you don’t want to touch clay at all, but you just sit and stare at the work anyway and plot your next move.”

As the Ceramic Studio Manager and a teacher at Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, there are no “typical” studio days for Brej. His roles allow him to pursue his own work even as he supports other potters, which means he never has a dull moment. 

Not only does he manage the glazes and raw materials, but every pot that goes through the firing cycle touches his hands at least twice. He also oversees the lively open studio hours. Although he’d love more time to focus on his own work, he says the “dancing and juggling” make every day an adventure. 

He also enjoys teaching and helping potters evolve.

“The best moments have always been witnessing the ‘aha’ moments, when the students truly get it,” he said. “That and the growth. Over seven years of teaching, I’ve gotten to see quite a few artists develop their skills to where I’m curious, excited and unaware as to what they’re going to put out next.”

Check out his website at www.mattbrejceramics.com. 

He also sells work through the Dempsey Artisan Shop at Fine Line Creative Arts Center, 37W570 Bolcum Road, St. Charles, and at Indie Art Park, 28W577 Stafford Pl, Warrenville. 

Brej has work for sale at Fine Line during the June Fox River Arts Ramble and during the Christmas period.

This piece was written by Ellen Jo Ljung, a longtime Geneva resident, author, award-winning educator, and glass artist. Visit her website to learn more.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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