Tag: material exploration

Laura Fox-Wallis works in silk and dye, a medium that demands both control and surrender. Her birds are built through layered colour, steam-fixed dyes, and years of technical discipline, yet shaped equally by chance. What sets her work apart is her willingness to let the material speak back—to allow bleeding, blooming, and unexpected movement to become part of the image. Nature in her work isn’t decorative; it’s symbolic of impact, imprint, and consequence. Each piece reflects a balance between intention and unpredictability, asking what remains after the moment has passed.

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.