Our Story

Marc Hoeflich,  Master Ceramic Artist, Architect and Artist

Owner Portlandia Pottery www.portlandiapottery.com

His creativity, in the arts, was born in his Oregonian born grandfather’s design studio, where he spent countless hours tinkering. This maker environment was ripe with inspiration – tools, gadgets, architectural records, patents and magazines. Eventually studying architecture in New York, he fed his early passion for creative expression through the study of art, ancient artifacts, and buildings.

Fast forward 40 years, while renting a summer house in Fire Island, New York, a friend brought out a bag of clay which turned out to shape and mold his career.  He enrolled in pottery classes and traveled the world studying the ancient cultures and their works European, Greek, Roman, Chinese, and the Americas including Native American, Mayan, and Aztec masters. All these evolving and inspiring his creative juices and technique.   

Today, with well over 1,000 pieces either hand built or wheel thrown and or any combination thereafter. Marc’s pieces have been shown at galleries around the nation, his pieces today reflecting his love of nature continually inspired by both land and sea. 

On this website, Portlandia Pottery, the images do more justice than words on paper. Hope you enjoy his one-of-a-kind handmade pottery, along with his artwork sketches and his husband, Fred’s pottery.

Fredric Suckle, Master Ceramic Artist, Teacher.

Co Owner Portlandia Pottery.

His foray into pottery, started the same weekend as Marc on Fire Island. He also enrolled in pottery wheel classes. At first it was extremely difficult, but with persistence and encouragement of friends, he began to excel in pottery, eventually becoming a teacher himself.

His love of cooking, helped him design everyday pottery, used in his cooking and serving his concoctions, has made his everyday pottery much desired by his friends. He has excelled in his mastery of clay, including glazing techniques and firing methods has given a unique view of ceramics that this site showcases. Over the next few months, more of his pottery creations will be added to this site.

Fred’s creative beginnings are in photography. His use of light, shade and color to show beauty have translated into his ceramic work. When handed clay, his hands didn’t just see form, but also function. His pieces are coveted as serving wear, everyday pieces that are treasured, not just because of their usefulness, but the pleasure his forms bring to others. His skills in glazing are unmatched, and have been an inspiration to potters of all levels. His pieces have movement, depth and dimension. A gifted teacher, Fred’s influence goes beyond the classroom. Patient and guiding, he has influenced potters of all levels by simplifying techniques providing proven results. If you every wanted to learn how to use the wheel, of wanted to understand clay and ceramics’, their is no match to Fred’s talent in teaching. Back in New York, he has hosted and supervised workshops in Raku, Saggar and Glazing.