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Born in 1982, 43-year-old Virginia, Minn.-born artist Nathan Bray did not live during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. His teachings came by means of family, education, travel and seeing the passion of California street artists presenting strong, meaningful graphics and graffiti on social justice. 

Bray’s powerful, tangible exhibit, currently on display at the MacRostie Art Center (macrostieartcenter.org) in Grand Rapids from June 6 to July 25, provides a poignant display of hard-fought human rights throughout history. Nathan is a two-decade-experienced ceramist. This is his first solo exhibition since 2009. Bray and his wife, Colleen, currently live in Iron, Minn., where he works out of his home studio. 

Bray’s style has always been distinct, not only by form but by his visual awareness and use of color in his designs. His pottery has been described as whimsical and wonky – vessels, cups and pitchers with curves and ruffles. 

With an admiring nod to his mother, Marilyn, who was a seamstress, Nathan felt her influence seeing her fabrics, seams and choices for custom window treatments. It was an art with movement and a vision from the eyes and hands of his mother. He is intentional in keeping his own family memories built into his pieces. His parents are both deceased. 

His father, Byron, was a lifetime painter by brush and by paint pours (think Jackson Pollock) using farm implements and automotive high enamel paints in his works. He also painted by brush using board, canvas, whatever was available to take paint for his abstract artistry. Nathan’s family moved to California after the Minnesota Taconite mine shut down in the 1980s. The family returned to Minnesota when Nathan was 13.

Nathan was interested in model cars and race cars as a teen. He helped build a drag race car with his father. He liked construction. He had considered being an electrician, earned his degree and did not pursue this career. 

For a short period in his life – Bray was diagnosed with severe arthritis and was in a wheelchair. His health held a deterrent so he changed course and pursued school for Art & Business at Hibbing Community College. He credits his ceramics class instructor, Bill Goodman, with setting the seed for what has become his life’s passion. He graduated from Bemidji State University in 2009 with his Bachelors in Fine Arts degree. He furthered his studies as a resident artist at the Carbondale Clay Center in Colorado from 2010-2011. 

Bray sells his pottery by shows, visits to his home studio and his Etsy page at braypottery.etsy.com. Bray’s teacup collection has a vast following. His function changes in pattern, style, color, movement, finishes – almost flirting with the patron to add another new piece of fancy to the company of any Nathan Bray display. 

Think of the conversations that flow over the quirkiness of swirls, curls and twirls in clay and color. Gold-tipped glazed feet on the cups added another flair of change as Nathan worked with splats, dots and stripes, creating added delight for both the admirer and the consumer. 

Bray pottery stands out – it is as unique as the potter himself. Delightful, inspiring, colorful and full of encouragement – even when the expressions are rebellious. 

Bray applied for his current show at the MAC more than a year ago, unsure of what body of work he would present. The 2024 election and the rise of an authoritarian government was the precipice from which to create an exhibit with teachings of history and generations before who have battled elements that lean toward fascism and tyranny. 

Bray said, “I wanted an awareness exhibit – an exhibit to be vocal and stand up for human rights.” 
He said human rights are inclusive of civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights, children’s rights, elders’ rights, disability rights, housing rights, food rights and more. Bray is very concerned and disheartened to see human rights on the chopping block under the current presidential regime.  

This pottery exhibit presents verses, quote and sayings from past historical eras with quotes of noted human rights champions. Vibrant colors and patterns used for bowls, serving stands, dessert plates, lidded vessels, oval dishes, mugs, pitchers and vases that are both functional and impactful by their message. 

A dessert stand is graphically painted: “For when the rich eat your cake.”  

Another piece hanging in the display of plates is painted with a guitar, which serves as the reminder of the great musician Woody Guthrie, known for his famous 1943 guitar sticker that reads: “This machine kills fascists.” 

There are quotes by Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and more. 

A piece with Martin Niemoller’s famous poem written during WWII with Nazi Germany seems as eerily relevant today with the words: “First they came for . . .” 

On another platter, a piece of hope -–among the darkness of lessons conscientious humans never wished to see again – comes the words: “We Shall Overcome.” And from this piece – is what Nathan Bray desires in being an artist and messenger in a movement for the people and social justice in the United States. 

You can see the exhibit in person (highly recommended for impact) or see this link for some of the pieces on display: https://macrostie-art-center.myshopify.com/collections/ and click to Nathan Bray. The MacRostie Art Center is located at 406 1st Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids.