Artist Statement
I craft porcelain vessels that combine dynamic forms and dimensional surfaces to create a captivating presence. Symmetrical and precise, the vessels are striking at first glance and reward further examination.
My Vessels are relational objects that both affect and are affected by their surroundings. Employing positive and negative space, and light and shadow, they collaborate with the space they inhabit. They are objects designed to promote and reward active viewing. With an interior volume to peer into or through, and interplay between layered features, the vessel is used to promote curiosity and invite the viewer in closer than they might engage with other art objects. When observed from different viewpoints they offer a shifting understanding of form, volume, and symmetry. Rethinking structure and creating inventive interpretations of the vessel, I utilize the familiar to present the unexpected.
Form and structure in my work are influenced by a wide range of architecture styles, including Gothic, Islamic, modern and postmodern. Moments in architecture such as the inviting quality of repeated arches down a corridor or a dynamic roofline contrasting against the sky are combined with the language of the vessel. Inspiration for surface designs comes from patterns I find captivating. This can include anything from dimensional folded paper or carved stone that shift with changing light to the vibration of patterns in Islamic tile work.
Order and symmetry are used in my work to draw the eye in and captivate viewers. Precise repetition is also used as a mark of intention, showing that little or nothing is left to chance. I work with clay because the malleable material responds readily, allowing me to manipulate each detail skillfully by hand.
Achromatic white surfaces allow for dynamic play with light and shadow, bringing pierced components and dimensional patterned designs to life. On quieter forms, white celebrates subtlety as light falls across different contours and faces of forms, allowing my pieces to shift along with the mood of the room as time passes.
My Vessels are relational objects that both affect and are affected by their surroundings. Employing positive and negative space, and light and shadow, they collaborate with the space they inhabit. They are objects designed to promote and reward active viewing. With an interior volume to peer into or through, and interplay between layered features, the vessel is used to promote curiosity and invite the viewer in closer than they might engage with other art objects. When observed from different viewpoints they offer a shifting understanding of form, volume, and symmetry. Rethinking structure and creating inventive interpretations of the vessel, I utilize the familiar to present the unexpected.
Form and structure in my work are influenced by a wide range of architecture styles, including Gothic, Islamic, modern and postmodern. Moments in architecture such as the inviting quality of repeated arches down a corridor or a dynamic roofline contrasting against the sky are combined with the language of the vessel. Inspiration for surface designs comes from patterns I find captivating. This can include anything from dimensional folded paper or carved stone that shift with changing light to the vibration of patterns in Islamic tile work.
Order and symmetry are used in my work to draw the eye in and captivate viewers. Precise repetition is also used as a mark of intention, showing that little or nothing is left to chance. I work with clay because the malleable material responds readily, allowing me to manipulate each detail skillfully by hand.
Achromatic white surfaces allow for dynamic play with light and shadow, bringing pierced components and dimensional patterned designs to life. On quieter forms, white celebrates subtlety as light falls across different contours and faces of forms, allowing my pieces to shift along with the mood of the room as time passes.