Through making artwork that functions, I hope to create moments of discovery that illuminate something beautiful or delightful. I create forms with hidden elements that invite imagination or allow an encounter to unfold. The process of transforming soft and malleable clay into a hard ceramic object is a dynamic process. I chase these dynamic qualities when I experiment in ceramics. I use a smooth, stoneware clay with a fine texture similar to porcelain in order to achieve finesse in my forms. Details come to the surface during the hottest part of the firing as the metals in my glaze crystallize and become a glittering aurora. Atmospheric flame creates subtle to dramatic blushing effects and introduces an element of chance to the highly-crafted shapes.
Julian Gruber
