The Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of Arkansas Heritage, is pleased to announce Stephen Driver as the 2025 Arkansas Living Treasure for his work and dedication to the craft of pottery. A public announcement will be made at noon on April 26 at Historic Washington State Park during the James Black’s Bowie Heritage Festival.

“The arts community in Arkansas contributes to our rich creative culture and heritage. Stephen Driver is doing valuable work with his mastery of craft, building a community for pottery in Arkansas,” said Shea Lewis, secretary of Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “With 52 years of experience, Mr. Driver has touched many lives by building deep roots in The Natural State and isa true Arkansas Living Treasure.”

The Arkansas Living Treasure program annually recognizes an Arkansas creative who excels in a traditional craft or folk art and who preserves and advances their craft through community outreach or teaching others. Driver is universally known in the Arkansas pottery community for his work that is intricately, historically and environmentally tied to the land.

Driver has led international workshops and exhibited in Arkansas, the U.S. and abroad. His work is also represented by Boswell Mourot Fine Art in Little Rock. He began his teaching career leadingArtist in Education programs in the early 1990s.He taught at the University of the Ozarks from 2018 to 2019 and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock from 2008 to 2013. He has taught at universities nationwide and has earned multiple awards, including the Arkansas Arts Council’s Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist in 2024.

In 1976, Driver moved to Northwest Arkansas as part of the “back to the land” movement, built a home and studio—and built his firstkilnnear Oark. He also started Mulberry Creek Pottery, where he focuses on stoneware and porcelain influenced by Arkansas geography, and later built a large Anagama kiln. For the last eightyears, he has beenfiring his two-chambered wood kiln, which created a way for potters statewide to come together as a community. The kiln can hold 850-1000 pieces of work fired at 2,400 degrees over the course of four or five days. The project and Driver are the subjects of a documentary, "Ozark Wabi", created by Molly Wheat and Eliot Peterson in 2024.

“I am an incurable romantic that fell in love with making pots and wanted to be a country potter,” Driver said in documents submitted to the Arts Council. “I am compelled to work with my hands, and I have a need to design, engineer and find elegant solutions in clay. It is what makes me really happy.”

Multiple Arkansas clay sculptors and potters recommended Driver for his talent, commitment to community and education. Driver also useslocal wood for fuel.Driver is also an author, speaker and natural habitat steward.

“The Arkansas Living Treasure program is an excellent way for us to recognize master craftspeople, such as Mr. Driver, who have made an impact on the arts community while building excellence around a traditional craft,” said Marty Ryall, director of Arkansas Heritage. “Stephen Driver’s combined years of experience, international renown, dedication to craft and commitment to community building make him an excellent fit for our program.”

Thanks to a Windgate Foundation grant, the Arkansas Arts Council will award $5,000 to Driver as part of the recognition program. Driver will be honored during a special ceremony, which will be announced at a later date. The award and ceremony will celebrate and recognize Driver and his craft.

Patrick Ralston, director of the Arkansas Arts Council, said, “Mr. Driver is a dedicated and masterful clay artist and potter who has inspired so many others. We are excited to have the opportunity to recognize him.”

Panelists this year also recognized the top contenders for the award as Tim Trawick, master folk fiddler; Shawn Hoefer, master broom weaver; and Dennis Siler, master instrument maker.

For more information about the Arkansas Living Treasure Award, contact Scarlet Sims, artist services manager, at 501-324-9348 or[email protected]. Or visit the Arkansas Arts Council’s website at arkansasarts.org.