Stephanie LeBaudour is a ceramic sculptor based in Petaluma, California, originally from Ohio. Her work delves into the complexities of human emotion, exploring the intersections of psychology, mythology, and personal narrative. Animals frequently appear in her sculptures, acting as vessels for difficult and often unspoken emotional states. Her intuitive, process-oriented approach allows her to transform clay into forms that honor vulnerability, reflection, and the unseen depths of the human experience.

Stephanie earned her BA in Studio Art from San Francisco State University, where she concentrated on ceramics and sculpture. Initially trained in painting and sculpture, she discovered a profound connection with clay during a class taken on a whim. Clay quickly became her chosen medium perfect fusion of form and surface that allows her to fully express her artistic voice.

Influenced by artists such as her former professor Jeff Downing, as well as Beth Cavener and Michelle Gregor, Stephanie’s work is rooted in the tactile and emotional resonance of the material. She investigates the relationship between form and surface. Through multiple firings, she creates a surface with history and depth. Her sculptures draw from mythology, folktales, and inner landscapes, inviting viewers to confront and connect with their own emotional realities. 

Stephanie's practice is a quiet yet powerful homage to the emotional threads that bind us all—a space where difficult feelings are not only acknowledged, but given form and reverence.