a little more about me…

  • A woman with curly red hair holding an open colorful sticker or scrapbook book in a cluttered home office or art space, with shelves filled with books, artwork, and decorative objects.

    7 X 7 x 7

    Published July 30, 2021 • New City Arts • The 7x7x7 Series asks 7 questions to 7 Charlottesville artists, published weekly…

  • "CreativeMornings logo on black speech bubble, set against vibrant vertical stripes in various colors, conveying energy and creativity."

    CreativeMornings

    I spoke at CreativeMornings Charlottesville on how play, curiosity, and storytelling shape my practice.

  • Logo of WTJU 91.1 FM features four colorful squares with white letters "W," "T," "J," and a stylized "U," representing a vibrant radio station.

    Arts This Week

    You're listening to WTJU. CreativeMorningsCharlottesville is hosting a talk with artist Emma Terry.

  • https://www.instagram.com/go.by.train/

    go.by.train

    I take pictures from windows on long-distance trains - an invitation to slow down and notice the unexpected…

  • Round logo with the text "made by emmapie pottery" in teal, surrounded by colorful stars and retro stripes in blue, green, and mustard. Playful and creative tone.

    Instagram

    Follow my ceramic studio life + works in progress :: studio sketches, kiln reveals, and clay experiments!

cool things….

Book cover titled 'Bisexuality Beyond Binaries' with colorful pastel pinatas in various shapes, author Lisa Speidel, purple background.

I was honored to be asked to create shrines for the cover of Lisa Speidel’s Bisexuality Beyond Binaries, a powerful new book that amplifies the voices of a community often erased.

I had the best time being part of the 2024-25 New City Arts Artists Exchange. Modeled after a traditional print exchange, the New City Artist Exchange brings together Charlottesville-area artists to create and exchange a unique set of artworks with one another every year.

Charlottesville

CreativeMornings

Pottery for wonder seekers…

I am the Program and Communication Director for UVA Arts, a Charlottesville-based ceramic artist, a teaching artist at City Clay, and a member of Milkweed Clay Studio. A lifelong maker, I discovered clay in 2023 and approach my work with a spirit of curiosity and joy, seeing play not as frivolity but as a pathway to discovery. My practice centers on creating sculptural and functional pieces that serve as vessels for wonder: shrines, portals, and whimsical companions that invite engagement, reflection, and delight.

Rooted in both storytelling and the tactile nature of clay, my work balances durability with imagination, favoring clean lines, lively glazes, and thoughtful hand-built details. Much of my process is guided by experimentation, as I explore new ways to shape, alter, and adorn my forms. I draw inspiration from the quiet magic of everyday objects and the fleeting beauty of the natural world. Through my pieces, I hope to share a spark of the same awe and playfulness that clay continues to bring me every day.

A woman with glasses and curly hair tied back, wearing a blue apron, standing next to a display of colorful, artistic sea life-themed sculptures and ornaments, including shells, sea creatures, and abstract designs, at an art or craft show.

Emma studied Anthropology at William & Mary, completed postgraduate studies in Folklore & Ethnography at University College Cork, Ireland, and has a Graphic Design Certificate from PVCC. She has served on the boards of Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, WTJU 91.1 FM, Empowered Players, and The Fralin Museum of Art Volunteer Board, and is a co-founder of CreativeMornings Charlottesville.