Ontology Clay

Ontology Clay I’m Aaron Geringer, by day I work as a mental health therapist, much of my time outside of work revolves around pottery.

Ontology, the branch of philosophy that studies being and existence, resonates with me in both my profession and my artistic work.

My name is Aaron Geringer and I am a mental health therapist and ceramicist living in St. Peter, MN. My work consists of...
07/29/2026

My name is Aaron Geringer and I am a mental health therapist and ceramicist living in St. Peter, MN. My work consists of ceramic botanical printmaking and wheel-thrown pieces.
I call my ceramic practice Ontology Clay. Ontology is the metaphysical branch of philosophy that examines existence and being. I find working with clay to be a deeply contemplative act, using raw materials of the earth to create new forms. Through my wheel-thrown pieces and botanical printmaking, ceramic work has become a way of connecting with the natural world: a medium to consider what existed before us, what exists alongside us, and what remains after we leave.

Inspiration strikes on a whim, when you least expect it. As a creative, I’ve come to find these moments to be quite sacr...
07/28/2026

Inspiration strikes on a whim, when you least expect it. As a creative, I’ve come to find these moments to be quite sacred.

Let’s say you procrastinate mowing your lawn for a month, and you suddenly have a yard of spindly clover. I was gathering plants for the studio one day, noticed the clover, and thought why not? I don’t play around with color in my prints or use darker clay, because they don’t provide as much contrast to capture the finer details of plants. Sometimes, as an artist, it pays off to break your own rules.

Now I have a good reason to procrastinate mowing my lawn. I think the bees appreciate it too.

People keep sending me videos of other ceramists making prints with tree eyes. So I finally gave it a shot. Stay tuned t...
07/24/2026

People keep sending me videos of other ceramists making prints with tree eyes. So I finally gave it a shot. Stay tuned to see what this is attached to.

Oatgrass is one of my favorite plants to print with. I love how well the clay captures the motion of this plant—how easi...
07/21/2026

Oatgrass is one of my favorite plants to print with. I love how well the clay captures the motion of this plant—how easily you can visualize grasses blowing in the wind as you look at these.

I’ve started playing around with tree bark impressions. I’m not sure if these are considered printmaking or using nature...
07/16/2026

I’ve started playing around with tree bark impressions. I’m not sure if these are considered printmaking or using nature as a press mold. Anyway, these are ginkgo and locust. More to come. :)

07/14/2026

Check out my wheel-thrown work at the Arts Center of St. Peter!

I was given the Judge’s Choice award at the Twin Rivers Best in Art Series on Tuesday. Thanks for everyone who showed up...
06/27/2026

I was given the Judge’s Choice award at the Twin Rivers Best in Art Series on Tuesday. Thanks for everyone who showed up to listen to my talk! I had a lot of fun! Thanks Twin Rivers Arts for this opportunity.

06/17/2026

Artist Spotlight: Aaron Geringer

Aaron's artistic journey began in ceramics just a few years ago, but his work already reflects a distinct creative voice. Combining wheel-thrown vessels with botanical printmaking, Aaron uses plants from his own garden and neighborhood to create pieces rich in texture and natural beauty.

Meet Aaron and see how clay, nature, and craftsmanship come together at Best in Art v6.26.

Tuesday, 6.23.26
5:30–7:00 p.m.
Shared Spaces at Emy Frentz, 523 S. Second Street, Mankato, MN
Free Admission

The Best in Art Series showcases three artists and their work as they compete for two honors: the $500 People's Choice Award and the $500 Juror's Choice Award. An artist may be selected to receive either award—or both. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artists, view their work, and cast their vote for the People's Choice winner.

The series is underwritten by Tony & Anne Frentz.

To find out more about Twin Rivers Best in Art, go to https://www.twinriversarts.org/best-in-art-series

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