Tag: contemporary craft

Michelle Dumas transforms forgotten thrift-store paintings into dazzling contemporary artworks using thousands of individually applied sequins, breathing new life into vintage florals, landscapes, portraits, and found treasures. Rooted in a love of thrifting, upcycling, and creative reinvention, her practice challenges traditional ideas about value, beauty, and permanence by rescuing discarded artworks and turning them into vibrant, light-filled pieces that constantly shift with their surroundings. Working through an intensely time-consuming process, Michelle carefully builds layers of colour, texture, shimmer, and pattern that invite viewers to slow down and experience the work from…

This article looks at five women who have shaped their lives around clay through steady practice, patient experimentation and close attention to the world around them. From glaze research to handbuilt forms, coloured porcelain to thoughtful functional ware, their approaches vary widely, yet all share a commitment to slow work, careful observation and a willingness to teach and support others in the field. Together, they offer a clear view of how contemporary ceramics grows through curiosity, routine and long-term engagement with material.