Judy McKenzie: Featured Artist

11 February - 22 March 2023

In this new collection, Judy has pushed the boundaries of her imagination to allow a more fluid and liberated way of exploring the use of coloured clay.

 

 

During lockdown, she drew inspiration from permitted country walks, recognising that we are all connected by nature and the sky above us and our individual struggles to make sense of what was happening. In her ceramic practice she continues to research and investigate the myriad possibilities that working with colour and pattern can achieve Her particularly unique process of Nerikomi has appeared in specialist publications by seminal ceramic authors. Judy exhibits in New York, London and galleries throughout the UK.

 

At the age of 57, Judy left her career in the design and print industry and enrolled for a BA in 3D Craft and Design, going on to study for an MA in Ceramics at the Royal College of Art where she developed an interest in the ancient ceramic processes of Nerikomi and Kintsugi. 

 

With Nerikomi, every detail of a piece is worked by hand, from colouring the porcelain with stains and oxides, to forming patterns and creating designs, but ultimately the process allows the clay to distort and twist, giving rise to unique patterns. No glaze is used, but each piece is polished to create a silky-smooth surface that highlights the beauty of porcelain. 

 

Kintsugi embraces the imperfections that can occur during the extremities of construction and firing. Highlighting a crack in the porcelain with a silver mend emphasises the beauty that can be found in imperfection and fragility, making it something to be treasured.