Artist Spotlight: Narra Smith Cox

If you’ve ever wandered through the Cottage Garden Gallery and stopped to admire a perfectly cozy mug, a ceramic pumpkin that feels like fall year-round, or a small vase clearly made with gardeners in mind, there’s a good chance you were looking at the work of Narra Smith Cox.

Narra creates fun, functional stoneware pottery in her home studio just south of Madison. Her connection to Rotary Botanical Gardens goes back about six years, when a first visit to the Gardens led her to discover the Cottage Garden Gallery. Not long after, her Garden Harvest Pottery became part of the gallery’s thoughtfully curated collection of art and handmade goods.

Pottery inspired by gardens and everyday use

Much of Narra’s work is rooted in her love of gardens and small farms. She designs pieces meant to be used and enjoyed:

• Vases for fresh-cut garden flowers or florist stems

• Mini vases that hold just a few blooms and add a little joy to any corner

• Bowls for salads, soups, and everyday meals

• Ceramic pumpkins that last longer than a single season

• Leaf-inspired pieces that highlight the textures of plants like rhubarb and cucumber

And of course, mugs are a favorite. Many are finished with subtle details like butterfly or dragonfly stamps pressed into the clay.

From clay to kiln

Pottery is a slow, hands-on process, and Narra loves the rare gift of uninterrupted time in her studio. Each piece moves through multiple stages: forming on the wheel, drying to leather-hard, trimming, drying again to bone dry, bisque firing in an electric kiln, glazing, and a final firing in a gas kiln.

Small ceramic vases and bowls in warm yellow, blue, and speckled glazes displayed with dried flowers

Garden-inspired ceramic pieces including leaf-shaped dishes and a small handled basket filled with p

Handmade ceramic plates on display, including a white snowflake cookie plate and a coral plate with

Green ceramic leaf platter with embossed fern details displayed on a wooden shelf, surrounded by han

Assorted handmade stoneware mugs and small bowls in earthy glazes arranged on a wooden shelf, each w

Her favorite moment comes at the end, when the kiln cools and she can open it to see the results. That’s when, as she puts it, the magic happens.

Made to be used

Narra’s stoneware pottery is food-safe and built for real life. With proper care, pieces can be used in the dishwasher, oven, and microwave, making them as practical as they are beautiful.

You can find Narra Smith Cox’s pottery in the Cottage Garden Gallery during your next visit to Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin. Every purchase supports local artists and helps sustain the Gardens’ mission to enrich lives through natural beauty, education, and the arts.

Plan your visit: rotarybotanicalgardens.org/plan-your-visit