Photo: Michael Ezzell
Local artists & art
Michael Ezzell Fine Art
The Laguna Canyon studio of sculptor Michael Ezzell, who has worked in clay in Laguna Beach for decades. Hand-thrown stoneware, fused-glass sea life and limited-edition bronzes, from a March Hare running late to a violinist mid-tune, sold directly by the artist.
About
Michael Ezzell has been making art in Laguna Canyon for decades, and his work moves easily between clay, glass and bronze. Born in Harlingen, Texas, in 1950, he moved to Corona del Mar at twelve and found clay in college under Professor William Payne. That led to Denmark, where he worked at Yacht Pottery on the island of Bornholm, and to England, where he taught at David Greene Pottery in Exeter. Back in California, he joined a circle of emerging artists and opened a studio in Laguna Beach, where he still works.
Start with the stoneware. Night and Day is a hand-thrown white stoneware vase; the Elephant Vase is hand-sculpted and 18 inches tall. Then the sea life: Mahi Mahi and Third Reef are built from hand-cut fused glass that shifts blue and green in the light, and Opal pairs a thrown form with white iridescent mosaic glass. Tsunami and Silent Spring go further, reimagining fish as half-machine, with gears, pipes and, in Tsunami, embedded LED light.
The bronzes are cast in limited editions using the lost-wax process. Tea Time, a 34-inch March Hare from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is the first in a series of bronze rabbits, in an edition of 25. Uncle Peter, 'The Advocate' and Geisha Satoka share its pull toward character and story, as does Play It by Ear, a violinist mid-tune.
This is a chance to buy straight from the maker. Every piece on michaelezzell.com has its own inquiry link, and new work is released often, with a countdown to the next drop on the site. If you collect sculpture and are planning a trip to Laguna, call or email to book a studio visit. Michael also takes commissions and ships larger pieces.
What to know
- Studio visits are by appointment; call or email to set one up.
- Work is sold directly by the artist; prices on request.
- Bronzes are limited editions; Tea Time is an edition of 25.
- Takes commissions, and ships larger pieces (Tea Time is 85 pounds).
- New work is released often; the website counts down to the next drop.
Getting there
2307 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
The studio is in Laguna Canyon, on Laguna Canyon Road (Highway 133) near Laguna College of Art and Design. Coming from the 405 or the 5, you pass it on the way into town; the Sawdust and Festival of Arts grounds and downtown are a few minutes further toward the ocean. Visits are by appointment, so call ahead and ask where to park.
FAQs
Sculpture and vessels in three materials: hand-thrown and hand-sculpted stoneware, hand-cut fused and mosaic glass, and bronze cast by the lost-wax process. Many pieces take the form of sea life or storybook characters.
In Laguna Canyon, at 2307 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach. Visits are by appointment: call (949) 246-4001 or email michaelezzell@gmail.com to set one up.
Directly from the artist. Each work on michaelezzell.com has an inquiry link, or you can reach him at (949) 246-4001 or michaelezzell@gmail.com.
Yes. Tea Time, a 34-inch bronze March Hare cast by the lost-wax process, is the first in a series of bronze rabbits and is limited to 25.
For decades. After studying ceramics in college, working at Yacht Pottery in Denmark and teaching at David Greene Pottery in Exeter, England, he came back to California and opened his studio in Laguna Beach, where he still works.
Often. New pieces come out in scheduled drops, and his website shows a countdown to the next one.
No. Michael Ezzell Fine Art is the Laguna Beach sculptor, born in 1950. A different artist named Michael Ezzell is a painter and printmaker based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Yes. Reach him through michaelezzell.com, at (949) 246-4001 or at michaelezzell@gmail.com to talk through a piece.
Yes. He ships larger pieces, so you don't have to carry an 85-pound bronze home in your luggage. Ask about it when you inquire.
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