The London Ceramicists Revitalising The Craft

In an age when life moves quickly and through pixels, the appeal of handmade goods remains resilient. Beautiful objects that demonstrate human involvement and creative integrity are irreplaceable. Retailers have taken note, with concept stores, such as The New Craftsman in Mayfair, and independent publications, like Hole & Corner, focussing on the designer‐maker. No more apparent is this than with the resurgence of handmade ceramics. It seems we’re becoming increasingly curious about how things are made and want to learn about the stories they tell. Interestingly, many designers are bringing back simplicity to ceramics, reviving old techniques, including those used by ceramicists in the 6th century. Something Curated rounds up the potters, artist collectives and initiatives championing this movement in London.

William Edmonds

One third of Nous Vous, an artist collective, William’s practice encompasses drawing, sculpture, sound and, most recently, ceramics. His distinct aesthetic manifests brilliantly across a vast array of materials. Somewhat of a novice, he turned his hand to the potter’s wheel on a whim, as he became increasingly interested in ancient cultures and relics. Quickly realising he had a flair for three dimensional thinking, his drawings moved off the paper and onto the potter’s wheel, influencing the haphazard sculptural forms of his ceramics.

With a DIY ethos and organic approach, he creates peculiar clay vessels, smooth to touch but also wonderfully textured, mundane yet playful, a feast of colour and pattern. A delightful contradiction in all senses. William works from his Dalston studio and sells pieces from his ceramics collections titles ‘Somewow’ a stone’s throw away at The Independent Ceramics Market. His work is also available to buy via his website.

Jono Smart

Straight lines and simple forms is how Jono describes his own work, an extension of himself in many ways. From advertising, to garden design and now pottery, he makes from his studio, a converted barn situated on farmland on the outskirts of London. He notes: “The first moment I sat behind the wheel I knew it was the right place, a mixture of excitement and calm. Kind of like home.” Drawn to simplicity, natural materials and a pallet of muted tones, Jono creates porcelain pieces to become part of everyday rituals, seamlessly lending themselves to your day, not too precise, not too mechanical but tangible and familiar. He has amassed somewhat of a cult following on Instagram, with his beautifully curated feed filled with thoughtful anecdotes and glimpses into the potter’s making process.

Ana Karin

Working with a unique mix of clays and her handmade glazes, Ana has turned her back on the more traditional practices, shunning the potter’s wheel for hand moulding vessels, enhancing the individuality of each piece. With foundations formed in sculpture and fine art, Anna opened her Hackney studio in 2012. Applying the same principles used in her sculptural work to clay, she has created an experimental and playful handmade aesthetic, allowing the tactile making process to be visible in the finished pieces, with finger marks and imprints left. With this way of working, each plate is made with a unique, earthy mottled, marbled patina, stone like and almost primitive-looking in finish.

The Clay Collective

Formed earlier this year, The Clay Collective includes 12 individuals with skills spanning embroidery, photography, botany, illustration and journalism, united by their love and enthusiasm for ceramics. Occupying a glass fronted ground floor studio within the artist community at Hackney Downs Studios, the collective showcase and support artists and practitioners working with the medium of clay. Hosting a developing programme of events, projects and open studios, they open their doors to the public, educating visitors on the craft of throwing ceramics.

Independent Ceramics Market

The Independent Ceramics Market offers a uniquely curated selection of over 50 of London’s independent ceramicists and DIY potters, presenting an excellent celebration of the craft in all it’s various shapes and forms. Hosted by The Hackney Flea Market, the event is held in Stoke Newington with current dates listed on their website. Rough and ready, it’s a place of discovery for those curious about this medium of making but also for emerging potters to exhibit and sell their one off pieces. The next Independent Ceramics Market will be held on Sunday 18th September.

 

Feature image: Spiral bowls by Ben Davies (via Geffrye Museum)

Text by Serene Khan