Image source: Bodo Sperlein
For many of us, the word ‘ceramic’ conjures up thoughts of ornate museum pieces and antique relics; beautiful pieces that might look out of place in many modern homes.
Fortunately, there is a community of contemporary artists changing the landscape of ceramic art. They are crafting beautiful work in a range of styles – from the weird and wonderful, to chic minimalism and everything in between. And the best part? It’s the kind of art you’d actually want to display in your home.
Today I’m showcasing a handful of my favourite artists but there are lots more out there so I encourage you to find a few of your own.
Clay Opera
A Warsaw, Poland based artist turning clay into charming pieces bursting with character. Their highly affordable body of work is available to buy on Etsy. My personal favourite pieces are Maurice the Cat (pictured) and Peter the Wolf.
Claire Ginn
Claire Ginn is a ceramicist living and working in Salt Lake City, UT. Her work, although quite minimalist, has a distinctly rustic and natural feel to it. Each piece is created using the ancient technique of wheel throwing. Click here to shop the full collection.
Bodo Sperlein
Bodo Sperlein is a German-born, London-based designer of home accessories and furniture. His ceramic work is informed by tradition but thoroughly modern, fusing intelligent design with a sense of delicate elegance. His lighting in particular is a work of art.
Helen Kemp
Helen Kemp is a Scotland-based ceramicist. Her work is influenced by Mexican and American folk art and Latin-American magic realism, and has a whimsical, dream-like quality to it. Her work is painstakingly hand-modelled and hand-painted and includes dishes, figures, candlesticks and outdoor pieces. You can commission Helen to make a bespoke piece, or buy her work from the galleries at which she exhibits.
Fenella Elms
Fenella Elms is an award-winning ceramicist based in Wiltshire. Her work in clay is influenced by her past career in mental health: “the subconscious approach, a sense of rhythm, attention to detail and difference. I don’t seek to put my experiences into the clay, but marvel at how they emerge.” Her work is currently on show in galleries in London and the Netherlands, but you can also arrange to visit her studio.
