Elizabeth Murphy’s unique approach with ceramics reveals the poetry of archetypal forms through textural interventions. Her compositions start with a single traditional form or a totemic assemblage of thrown pieces creating a sculptural canvas. Working intuitively with the form, the meandering textures are animated with movement and spontaneity and enhanced through complex glaze combinations.
Ripple….. a drop in the water, a splash followed by reverberations emanating from the axis, the waves vibrate and encapsulate the form.
Following my artistic examinations into textural surfaces, the Ripple Collection explores the space in between, creating eddies to collect glaze generating unique alchemical effects and giving the piece a depth within the surface decoration that enhances the form. The texture is highlighted with a lustre glaze evoking the glistening light on an edge of a wave creating a flickering, ripple effect. Working intuitively and expressionistically, each piece is an investigation where no surface is the same and no two works are alike.
Texture is manifest in these works. It is added by hand onto thrown pieces transforming the silhouette of the form and giving it a dynamic energy. It is worked in to the form in a gestural manner, allowing the slip and clay to ooze up the surface of the vessel. Each work is a glaze study which evolves from piece to piece. The raised texture is highlighted by contrasting glaze accentuating the meandering line of the clay. Oxides and lustre glazes give the works a metallic gleam emphasising the texture and bringing added depth to the work.
Thrown and handbuilt stoneware with oxide and glaze, 2024
Dimensions: 19.5cm h x 14cm diam
The Meander Series explores movement, texture and colour upon traditional vessel forms. Working in an improvisational and expressionistic style with applied sinuous texture, the vessel form is revealed, obscured, embraced and transformed by these interventions. Glaze plays an important part in these works, it is applied in layers and encouraged to flow freely to compliment the animated movement in the texture. Using a long neck bottle form, the glazes cascade across the surface merging and reacting in different ways with tones of green, blue green and with small crystalline forms emerging within it. The final effect is a dynamic vessel sculpture where the viewer is constantly discovering a new detail within the work.
This dramatic vase is a dramatic work of art which can enliven a mantlepiece or be used as a decorative accent for a sideboard.
Thrown and hand built stoneware with oxide and glaze, 2025
Dimensions: 32cm high x 11cm diameter
Each piece is individually hand thrown and no two are alike as they all vary slightly in textural application and proportion. The glazes are applied in layers in order to create the distinctive meanderings and alchemic combinations of colour tones. Each piece is individual and a true work of art.
The Meander Series explores movement, texture and colour upon traditional vessel forms. Working in an improvisational and expressionistic style with applied sinuous texture, the vessel form is revealed, obscured, embraced and transformed by these interventions. Glaze plays an important part in these works, it is applied in layers and encouraged to flow to compliment the animated movement in the texture. Each vessel is an investigation where no surface is the same and no two works are alike as each piece seems to lead on to another inquiry in different clay bodies, texture and glaze combination. The final effect is a dynamic vessel sculpture where the viewer is constantly discovering a new detail within the work.
These bowls are a perfect decorative accent for any space but can also be used to serve food to create a distinctive table setting.
Thrown and hand built stoneware with oxide and glaze, 2025
Dimensions: 7.5cm high x 15cm diameter
Each piece is individually hand thrown and no two are alike as they all vary slightly in textural application and proportion. The glazes are applied in layers in order to create the distinctive meanderings and alchemic combinations of colour tones. Each piece is individual and a true work of art.
The Ripple Bowl is a unique exploration glaze and texture elevating a simple bowl form into so much more. Working intuitively and expressionistically, each piece is a textural investigation where no surface is the same and no two works are alike. These pieces are enhanced with meandering textural lines that create eddies to collect glaze. The texture is highlighted with contrasting glaze evoking the glistening light on an edge of a wave creating a flickering, ripple effect. These are dynamic pieces, the tactile quality of the piece invites you to pick it up revealing a new detail in the glaze and texture every time.
These bowls are a perfect decorative accent for any space but can also be used to serve food to create a distinctive table setting.
Thrown and hand built stoneware with oxide and glaze, 2025
Dimensions: 7.5cm high x 15cm diameter
Inspired loosely by the form of poppy heads, these vases are characterised by the organic, fluttering mouth of the vase and the free flow glaze along the body. These vases are perfect for gathering cuttings from the garden in order to adorn your table or are the perfect hostess gift.
The Brae glaze is a moody glaze composition with layers of deep greens and blues merging and flowing together with a deep bronze in the interior.
Each vase is individually hand thrown and no two are alike as they all vary slightly in proportion. The glazes are applied in layers in order to create the distinctive meanderings and alchemic combinations of colour tones.
Thrown stoneware with glaze, 2025
Dimensions: 9.5cm high x 9.5cm diameter
Each piece is completely unique. Any irregularities in the work are to be embraced as the individual characteristics of the piece and are due to the making and firing process. These are part of the handmade quality of the piece.
The glaze composition is inspired by a ruin of a birch tree covered in green moss in my local woods. the curvilinear nature of the form paired with the elegant asymmetrical tangled textures in this work also alludes to William Morris’s Acanthus pattern.
The Striation Series commences with an assemblage of thrown vessels composed into a totemic form as a canvas for textural and glaze experimentations. Working on two to three forms at a time, a variety of vessels are thrown and then intuitively combined in different combinations creating unique undulating forms. The tall curvilinear pieces give the work a sense of movement and allow the glaze and texture to interact in different ways as it moves down the piece.
The texture is hand formed and individually applied onto the surface. Each texture is almost woven into one another creating its own visual language with tendrils breaking loose to grow and dance across the surface. The textures envelope the form but does not completely obscure it, leaving channels and glimpses of the original form underneath it.
Thrown and hand built stoneware with glaze and oxide, 2024
44cm high x 13cm diameter
About
I am a ceramic artist based in Oxfordshire and my practice is based around exploring narratives woven with threads of history, literature, music, art, nature and the human condition.
In deference to traditional forms, thrown and assembled vessels become backdrops for explorations in texture and surface pattern achieved through hand building methods as well as complex glazing and firing techniques. Working in an improvisational and expressionistic style with meandering and woven texture, the vessel form is revealed, obscured, embraced and transformed by the textural interventions. Glaze plays an important part in my compositions and is used to add extra depth to the surface and highlights and reveals aspects of the texture and form. Each vessel is an investigation where no surface is the same and no two works are alike as each piece seems to lead on to another inquiry in different clay bodies, texture and glaze combination. The final works of art are dynamic vessel sculptures as the viewer is constantly discovering a new detail within the work.
Contact
elizabethmurphyceramics@gmail.com
07850267926