Coastal Matter

Native material inquiry is an integral part of my practice that merges artistic fieldwork, material research and studio work both indoors and outdoors. By delving into the qualities and characteristics of raw materials, I lay the groundwork for developing sculptural work that explores themes of environmentalism and processes of material metamorphosis.

From May until July 2023, I spent time at the National Sculpture Factory (NSF) in Cork city as a fulltime studio member with access to their ceramics department. During this time, I conducted material research of site-specific coastal matter - clays, found rocks, sediments and seashells - which led to the development of working more extensively with found materials. Methodologies for testing materials allowed me to understand qualities and characteristics of native clays including plasticity and firing range, as well as their range of applications as a clay body, decorative slip or glaze.