Labor of love: It takes Sorensen, 54, 3-8 months to shape each urinal out of clay, depending on the size

Fun fixture: The twice-fired floral urinals are fully functional, which is a good thing considering they go for anywhere between $6,000 and $20,000

Test run: In his studio, Sorensen has a trio of plumbed urinals allowing customers to try them out before making a purchase

Creative space: Sorensen makes his fancy pissoirs in his basement studio in San Francisco's Mission District
One day in 2002, the artist was in a men's room when he was struck by an idea to transform the mundane, boring urinal into a whimsical objet d'art and even a status symbol.
With journalists and curious visitors queuing up to take a peek at Sorensen's porcelain sprays, his studio has been flush with business.
Sorensen's fanciful daffodils, hibiscuses and orchids have been exhibited in galleries from Hungary to South Korea, while deep-pocketed homeowners and businesses have been willing to shell out anywhere between $6,000 to $20,000 on his functional artworks.

Stinging satire: In his artworks titled Down the Drain and The World According to George, Sorensen took President Bush to task for his economic (left) and environmental polices (right)
In his artist statement, Sorensen explained: 'Because most people think of a urinal as being ugly or dirty, it is the perfect object to beautify. My pieces echo the classic conflicts between masculine and feminine, good and evil, soiled and chaste.'
Speaking to San Francisco Chronicle in his Mission District basement studio, Sorensen lamented that he is inundated with orders from all over the world and has been struggling to catch up with the growing demand.
Each flower-shaped bowl takes several months to sculpt out of clay. Once the model is ready, Sorensen bakes it twice in a 2,300-degree oven for two days, during which time the urinal can crack, forcing the artist to start from scratch.



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