The Spears family: Kyle, Tyler, Larry, and Jan.
22 Our Brown County • Sept./ Oct. 2025
~ story and photos by Bob Gustin
Jan and Larry Spears, along with their sons Tyler and Kyle, are a powerful force on the Brown County arts scene.
Larry is a renowned potter who has served as an inspiration for his sons, now artists themselves, and Jan is the businesswoman who holds it all together.
After 51 years of marriage, Larry’ s work as a potter has a national following, and their home-based gallery has been replaced with one in the heart of the arts and crafts district in Nashville.
And lately, after producing thousands of pieces of pottery, Larry has expanded his offerings into jewelry, another of his longtime interests.
While handmade jewelry is his current passion, he has no plans to stop making his unique pots, mugs, dinnerware, and art pieces which have built his reputation.