clay is endless exploration. an act of control and surrender, a constant inner dialogue, an intimate dance. I am drawn to the beauty that emerges from letting go…an intuition, guided from within..
my interest lies in highlighting raw clay and the form through mark making, to add movement and texture to the surface of the piece - like water, wind and sand. drawing inspiration from forms in nature, architecture, art and music. I make mental notes on everyday objects with interesting silhouettes that I would like to capture in clay. I aim to honour the identity of the medium whilst carrying a modern sensibility in my work; bridging this ancient practice with the new. all my vessels are hand built employing the pinch and coil method. this slow hand building technique is meditative – hands to clay, instinctive, and emotional. I embrace irregularity in the form which adds character to the piece, each being completely unique.
vessels in texture is a working series in my exploration of form and surface texture. Initially inspired by landscapes with raw, rough craggy surfaces, the pieces have evolved into sculptural shapes shifting over time…
tania whalen is a british ceramic artist from london. she is currently based in the US and works from her studio in brooklyn, ny. prior to this she lived in tokyo for almost two decades and it was here that the philosophies of ikigai and wabisabi shaped her aesthetic. it wasn’t until she moved to the states that she found herself in a pottery class and her journey with clay began.
her vessels are sold in select stores in the US and online worldwide, and can be found in private collections in the USA, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
tania’s work has been featured in Elle Decoration Spain “La Ceramica Habla” Ceramics Speak, and in Arquictectura y Diseno ‘En Toda su Crudeza’ In all its rawness, written by Itziar Narro for the creators section.