Art Biz Podcast

When I heard Sean VanderVliet mention the word “legacy,” I knew I had to talk with him. He thinks big and I like that. Check out episode 15 and  episode 19 for more on legacy. Sean is the artist behind Fenway Clayworks based here in Denver, Colorado, and in just a few years he has created a brand and a buzz around his functional pottery. A number of Denver’s finest restaurants commission Sean for their signature dinnerware. He wasn’t always a ceramic artist. For a number of years Sean worked in tech startups and even, with partners, started his own niche business for rock climbers. He has been able to translate the lessons he learned in those positions to his career as an artist. Sean says that people work with him because they see his passion. Although 60% of his current business is from commissions, he makes work in his style. If you want something with a flower or aspen tree on it, look elsewhere.  He enjoys immensely the collaboration with chefs and others, but he is also clear that not everyone is a cust