– Adjunct Ceramics Professor at SXU
Casey Burton’s path to ceramics could begin with a story of getting sued at just five years old. Her love for clay started with a childhood incident that would unknowingly shape her future.
When she was five, her family visited an antique store in Michigan City. While exploring, she accidentally dropped a candlestick holder onto a turquoise Guatemalan vessel, cracking it.
Although her family didn’t know it at the time, the pot was a rare work of art. Her father was sued for the damage and had to purchase it, causing it to become a lasting presence in their home. Burton believes this event was a quiet sign that ceramics would one day become her life’s work.
Burton didn’t actually discover her passion for clay until she attended the University of Iowa. Initially, she was interested in art therapy, but she took an introductory ceramics class and instantly became hooked. “I was immediately obsessed, maybe even addicted,” she recalls.
From that moment, she knew her future would be in ceramics. While she shared this, I noticed her eyes light up, which I could only assume mirrored the excitement she first felt when touching clay.
Now a first year adjunct professor at Saint Xavier University (SXU), Burton teaches ceramics to students, most of whom aren’t art majors. Her teaching focuses on building a community within the classroom and encouraging students to bring in their ideas and create meaningful work.
Burton’s journey to SXU came through an unexpected turn of events. After applying to over 50 jobs and residencies, she sent a cold email to Nathan Peck, the art director at SXU.
That email led to her current position. While she enjoys her work, she’s realistic about the challenges of adjunct teaching. “It’s part-time, the pay isn’t enough to live on, and I don’t get health insurance,” she explains. For now, she stays open to new opportunities as she builds her future.
Her long-term goals include becoming an assistant or associate professor and getting her work into museums and galleries.
While living on a teacher’s salary may come with its challenges, working as a ceramic artist in Chicago presents its own set of difficulties. “Finding an art community is hard,” Burton admits. “Selling work is hard. Getting into museums and galleries is hard.” Still, she remains committed to making a living from her art and sharing it with a wide audience.
Burton offers strong advice to students pursuing art careers: “Work your ass off.” She stresses that being an artist is a full-time, 24/7 commitment and that discipline is key. She also emphasizes the importance of accepting failure as part of the creative process.
“You learn from it, and it makes your work better.” Student Alvaro Saucedo, a junior and graphic design major in her wheel throwing class, states, “She’s honestly a really cool teacher. I like how she helps us try to fix any pieces we aren’t happy with.” He adds that the professor is always willing to help students with any step of the process they may be struggling with. Even if something breaks after it’s finished, Professor Burton always finds a way to help students make the best of it.
Saucedo also says, “I like the class. Professor Burton teaches us in a way that’s just calm. I just vibe in class. I went from not being able to make a cup at all to making an entire set,” showing just how effective she is as an educator. Saucedo’s progress, from having no experience to creating a series of pieces he’s proud of, highlights Professor Burton’s impact.
Although Burton may not be returning to SXU in the Fall 2025 semester, she made it clear that she cares deeply for her students and has left a lasting impact. On the last day of the Spring 2025 semester, she surprised all of her students with handmade vessels, so they can continue their journey of life with a piece of her in their homes.
Looking ahead, Burton has big plans. She wants to keep teaching ceramics, both in academic settings and outside of them. She dreams of creating community-driven art spaces where artists can collaborate and make art accessible to everyone.
“Clay is such a primal, accessible material. You can dig it from the ground, make a pot, and fire it with scrap wood in a pit fire. Western ceramics rely on fancy equipment, but I want to show people that making art shouldn’t be a privilege.”
From breaking an antique pot at five years old to planning to create an open art space for all, Casey Burton’s story is one of hard work and a deep love for her craft.
Whether in the classroom or the studio, she’s dedicated to sharing her love of ceramics with others and finding new ways to make art an important part of life.
As she prepares to move on from SXU, it’s clear that she has left a lasting impact on her students, teaching them that art is a meaningful form of expression that can be carried with them beyond the classroom.
By: Ghidaa Tareq