Sharon is a working actress who, after graduating from the prestigious Yale School of Drama has appeared in over 50 theatrical, film and television productions ranging from Shakespeare

to the soaps, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent films. She has co-starred with Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken,

Samuel L. Jackson,

Joanne Woodward and

Jane Seymour to name a few. 

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It is the actor’s job to give life to someone else’s words.

In the pottery studio Sharon has found the ability to create pieces that are uniquely hers.  She alone is responsible for how the piece will look, from her initial design sketch to the finished glazed piece (of course taking into account the many variables involved within the art of pottery itself: clay inconsistencies, kiln temperature and fluctuation, glaze chemistry and the general mood of “the little kiln gods”.) 

She spent hours in the studio practicing what she learned in class and in the process created hundreds of pieces and developed her own personal style. To make space for her growing pottery collection she began giving pieces to friends and relatives who, much to her surprise, kept returning to ask when she was going to begin having regularly scheduled sales.

What began as a hobby developed into an obsession and has eventually become a small business.  Naming it The Clay’s The Thing is an attempt to combine her two passions; performance and pottery by borrowing a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet:

The play's the thing

Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.

The Clay’s The Thing sells original and one-of-a-kind functional pottery.  Each piece is designed, made and signed by Sharon: 

“As I continue to grow and develop my skills as an artist I trust that my work will continue to reflect those changes From the beginning, both unconsciously and consciously, I have drawn from the rich heritage of African-American craft artisans that have come before me. Just as they combined African and New World traditions, my work reflects my dual heritage: the clean, sculptural lines of a modern, urban aesthetic blended with the folk art traditions of my South Carolina "Gullah" roots. The various techniques I've used to carve, embellish and alter classic wheel-thrown forms are my interpretation in clay of the decorative tradition of these direct descendants of West African slaves. I continue to strive to find unique ways to combine both old and new to create my own "traditional" forms. I hope you enjoy the feel  and functionality of these unique pieces as much as I've enjoyed creating them."

   While she still enjoys the craft of acting and continues to stay busy at it, a few years ago she began taking pottery classes in her “down time” as a way to reduce stress and unwind from a succession of auditions, performances, filming and travel.  In pottery class she discovered another way to express herself creatively.  As an actor she is only a part of the finished product; the director, cinematographer and editor can control and manipulate the appearance of the final performance.

Handmade Pottery By Sharon Washington

The Clay's The Thing

"My teapot made it's Broadway debut in March of 2008 in Tom Stoppard's play Rock 'n' Roll - Here's a photo of the teapot in the wings backstage ready to make an entrance!"

Sharon's pottery now offered for retail sale exclusively at

Mud Sweat & Tears pottery,

654 Tenth Avenue @ 46th Street

in New York City.