William Allen “Bill” Flowers is a celebrated self-taught Southern folk art potter based in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, widely recognized for his expressive face jugs, wood-fired pottery, and imaginative sculptural works. Emerging from the traditions of Southern folk ceramics while pushing them into increasingly eccentric and experimental territory, Flowers has become one of the most respected contemporary figures in American folk pottery.

After building his first potter’s wheel in 1969 from salvaged truck parts and scrap metal, Flowers developed his practice through years of experimentation, eventually mastering traditional Southern alkaline wood ash glazing techniques known for their rich textures and flowing glass-like drips. In the early 1980s, inspired by the face jugs of legendary potters Lanier Meaders and Burton Craig, Flowers shifted toward highly expressive folk sculpture and became known for grotesque face vessels, fantastical figures, and wildly inventive ceramic forms.

Working from a remote mountain community near Robbinsville, North Carolina, Flowers continues a multigenerational tradition of Southern pottery alongside members of his family. His work has been exhibited nationally, including at the Smithsonian Institution, and remains highly sought after for its technical mastery, humor, individuality, and deeply rooted connection to Appalachian folk art traditions.