My name is Becky Ziemer and I am a CritterMaker. Under the brand name of Becky Zee I have churned out hundreds of funny little critters over the past few years, but to be honest, they are only a small part of what makes my work stand out. I always keep the focus on having fun, building relationships, and creating stories. Those three elements work together to create something much more impactful, and ultimately, meaningful.

As a child, I had many different interests and enjoyed all forms of artistic expression, but none of them captured my attention like clay. My heart has always been set on becoming a ceramics artist, but my practical nature pushed me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design instead. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1998 with my BFA, I got married and found work in a print shop in Memphis, Tennessee. Over the years that followed, I was a graphic designer by day and an enthusiastic clay nerd by night. I gradually acquired equipment and sharpened my technical skills until finally, in 2015, I switched careers to become a full time ceramics artist. Today, you will most likely find me in my basement studio in midtown, Memphis, either creating new critters or building stories around some of my favorites.

All of my work expresses the deep love that I have for nostalgia, storytelling, and humor. I take special joy in breathing new life into old puns, and exploring the nooks and crannies of modern cultural heritage. My goal is to make people laugh as well as feel some connection or sense of wonder when they encounter my creations. Artists like Jim Henson, Weird Al Yankovic, and Dr. Seuss are my role models. I see their work and I am reminded that silliness is something that can be taken quite seriously, and can be a valuable tool for delivering ideas. My hope is that I can continue to push myself to make critters that are more than just a silly face. I want them to have a soul, and tell a story.