Ali Wohlers is a Nantucket-based artist and a member of the Nantucket Artists Association since 2024. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in ceramics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While ceramics is her primary focus, her practice extends across multiple mediums, with watercolor being a favorite outside of the studio. Deeply inspired by the ocean and coastal environments, her work often centers on marine life, blending detailed line work with soft, layered color to create pieces that are both expressive and serene.
My work is deeply rooted in my connection to the ocean and the coastal environments that have shaped both my life and my artistic practice. Growing up surrounded by the water, I’ve always been drawn to marine life—particularly whales, horseshoe crabs, and other quiet, resilient creatures that exist just beneath the surface. These subjects appear repeatedly in my work, not as fixed symbols, but as forms for exploration, observation, and appreciation.
I am currently pursuing a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in ceramics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where clay has become my primary material. I’m drawn to the physicality of ceramics—the rhythm of the wheel, the importance of touch, and the way surface, texture, and glaze can transform a form. Much of my ceramic work focuses on functional and decorative pieces, allowing the work to live naturally in everyday spaces rather than being confined to strictly conceptual narratives.
Outside of the ceramics studio, watercolor plays an essential role in my practice. I often combine watercolor with ink to create detailed yet fluid studies of marine life, allowing line and color to move together intuitively. While I value precision, I’ve become increasingly interested in loosening my approach and letting the process unfold without overworking the piece. Across all mediums, I aim to create work that feels calm, approachable, and visually driven—art that invites interpretation and reflects the quiet beauty of the ocean.
