This vessel speaks of the many ways a woman changes throughout her life.
Its generous body, narrowing waist and expansive, irregular opening suggest both containment and release. There is sensuality in its curves, but also strength and groundedness. The form is not symmetrical or perfected; it shifts and moves, embracing the natural irregularity of a living body.
I am interested in the stages of women’s lives that are often overlooked — particularly the profound transition of menopause. We live in a culture that places enormous attention on youth and often asks women to disguise the evidence of ageing and change. Yet these changes can bring something else: a deeper knowledge of the body, a stripping away of expectation, and the freedom to become more fully ourselves.
The vessel does not attempt to depict menopause. Instead, it embodies change and acceptance.
Each piece is hand-coiled, built slowly through the rhythmic joining of individual coils. The form grows through touch and intuition, allowing the clay to guide the direction of the vessel. The traces of this process remain visible, celebrating imperfection and the marks of making.
My signature ash glaze, created from ash collected from my home fireplace, settles across the surface like traces of time. Its earthy, speckled skin emphasises the organic nature of the form, connecting the elemental qualities of clay with the human body.
For me, this work asks us to look beyond the surface — beyond youth, perfection and the expectations placed upon women’s bodies — and to notice the beauty and power that emerge through change.
Perhaps what deserves our attention is not what we are losing, but what is unfolding.
The wisdom that comes with experience.
The strength in accepting change.
The sensuality of inhabiting a body without apology.
And the quiet, remarkable beauty of becoming who we are next.
53cmH 37cmW 28cmD