Stillwater Arts Festival 2023

Ashley Pertson - Clay/Porcelain

Ashley Pertson - Clay/Porcelain

Stillwater, OK
My work is inspired by fluidity and texture. My ceramic vases are created by stacking separate angular ceramic shapes to create one vessel. I adhere abstract circular loops around the piece to create a feeling of fluidity. The ornamental loops create a sense of fluidity by being placed in a continual pattern encircling the vases. Most loops have an intentional dip in their shape. The dips are a metaphor for different moments in one’s life. The loops are not always perfectly round but each part connects to another. The loops represent imperfections in the journey of life. The delicate ceramic loops wrap around the vessel and dangle from the edges.
I enjoy functional ceramics with texture. Therefore, I create a hammered texture that helps to enhance my glazes. The glaze pools in the carved wells and fires differently than it would if the vessel was completely smooth.
I am depicting fluidity and imperfections of life through my functional ceramic vases.