Hi, I’m Liam!

I’m Liam Cofell-Dwyer, the potter behind Wild Tree Pottery in Northfield, Minnesota.

I make functional pottery for everyday life - the mug you reach for every morning, the bowl that always seems to end up on the dinner table, or the serving piece that comes out whenever friends are over. My hope is to make things that are beautiful, useful, and become a familiar part of your home over time.

How Wild Tree Pottery started

I first started working with clay nearly 20 years ago, and I was hooked almost immediately.

There was something about the process that felt different. Clay forces you to slow down. You work with your hands, pay attention to what’s in front of you, and gradually turn a lump of earth into something that might be used for decades.

As someone who has always loved being outdoors, I was also drawn to how closely pottery is connected to the natural world. Clay, water, minerals, wood ash - these incredibly simple materials can become something beautiful and useful.

That connection still shapes the work I make today.

Made here in Minnesota

Every piece of Wild Tree pottery is made by hand in my studio in Northfield.

I primarily work with stoneware clay, using a combination of wheel throwing and slab building. I mix my own glazes and especially enjoy exploring surfaces and materials inspired by the landscapes around me - including glazes made with wood ash from locally sourced hardwoods.

Because everything is handmade, no two pieces are exactly alike. There will always be small variations in shape, glaze, and surface.

I think that’s a big part of what makes handmade pottery worth owning.

More than pottery

Wild Tree has grown into something bigger than me simply making pots in a studio.

Some of the people who buy my work have been following along for years. I see familiar faces at art fairs, recognize names when orders come through the website, and get messages and photos of pieces being used in people’s homes.

That’s one of my favorite parts of doing this.

I want Wild Tree to feel like a community you can be part of - not simply a place where you occasionally buy pottery.

When I’m not in the studio, I’m usually spending time with my wife, Allison, and our dogs, Basil and Isla; working in the garden; playing music or board games; or finding an excuse to be outside.

Come along for the ride

If you’d like to follow what’s happening at Wild Tree, I’d love to have you around.

My email list is where I share new pottery, upcoming shows, occasional studio stories, and a look at what’s coming out of the kiln. You can also follow along on Instagram, stop by and say hello at a show, or send me a message - I genuinely enjoy hearing from the people who use my work.

Thanks for being here and for supporting handmade pottery.

Liam
Wild Tree Pottery
Northfield, Minnesota