About the Artist: Amy Rees
Amy Wynne Rees was born in the heart of New York City, but her childhood unfolded in a quieter place — a small town outside of Syracuse, where creativity, resilience, and a strong sense of community began to shape her spirit. With a deep curiosity and drive, she set her sights on a career in media. Just two weeks after graduating from college, Amy landed a job at CNN. In the summer of 1988, she packed up her Subaru wagon and made the long drive to Atlanta, Georgia, ready to begin her professional journey and build a life of her own.
For years, Amy poured herself into her career, navigating the fast-paced world of broadcast journalism. But life, as it often does, had more in store. In 1995, during a painful period in her first marriage, Amy found herself searching for peace, connection, and a creative outlet. It was during this time that she wandered into a local community pottery studio — a space filled with spinning wheels, soft clay, and warm-hearted people. Surrounded by fellow creatives, many of them women also working through their own personal journeys, Amy discovered something unexpected: healing.
The studio quickly became a sanctuary. In those evening hours, shaping clay with her hands and listening to the stories of others, Amy began to feel seen and supported. One night, while working at the wheel, she created her first plate — a bold, soulful piece she named Zelda. Zelda wasn’t just a plate. She was a symbol — of strength, of individuality, of voice. And she would become the first in a long line of uniquely named, hand-sculpted plates, each one representing a woman, a mood, or a moment. These early pieces laid the foundation for what would later become the Personality Plates™ collection.
What began as a personal outlet turned into a calling. Amy's plates resonated with others — women who recognized pieces of themselves in the designs, the names, and the stories. Each plate captured personality, playfulness, and power, and the collection slowly grew to include wine charms and other meaningful ceramics — all created with intention and heart.
