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© Layton Thompson
© Layton Thompson
© Alun Callender
© Layton Thompson
© Layton Thompson

Tessa Eastman

  • Ceramicist
  • London, United Kingdom
  • Master Artisan
Tessa Eastman Ceramicist
© Alun Callender

Clay as a metaphor for life

  • • Tessa worked as an assistant to Kate Malone
  • • She decorates her sculptures with special glazes
  • • Her studio at Cockpit is a hub for craftspeople

Londoner Tessa Eastman believes that clay is the biggest metaphor for life because “it comes from the ground and the three dimensional forms can be full of challenges along the way”. Fascinated by art, she started working with clay at school and she was immediately captivated by it. It quickly became a passion, she won a pottery prize when she was 11 years old, that led her to the Wimbledon School of Art, then to the University of Westminster and onto the Royal College of Art, where she completed an MA in Ceramics & Glass. Committed to the challenge of hand building with clay, using various techniques to create complex ceramic sculptures, she is passionate about sharing her affection for the material with others whether it be an art collector, gallerist, student or enthusiast.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Sylvain Deleu
  • © Juliet Sheath
  • © Juliet Sheath
  • © Juliet Sheath
  • © Juliet Sheath
Photo: © Sylvain Deleu
Crystalline Cloud

This handmade sculpture explores ideas around contrasting and transformative states of growth. Bold sumptuous glazes have been developed to accentuate angles and curves. Soft and angular forms clash where the golden crystalline structure emerges from a voluminous red cloud. It was exhibited at Cloudspotting, a solo show in 2019 at Jason Jacques Gallery in New York.

Height 30 cm
Length 30 cm
Width 34 cm

Photo: © Juliet Sheath
Purple rocket

This tactile sculpture forms part of the Baby Cloud Bundle, a series of works developed for the British Ceramics Biennial. Haphazard sprouting mesh shapes unite and conflict with voluminous cloud forms, exploring the dichotomous relationship between harmony and tension. This sculpture modelled by hand, incorporates glazes designed to enhance the sensuous physicality of the work.

Height 16 cm
Length 30 cm
Width 34 cm

Photo: © Juliet Sheath
Golden Erupting Cloud Cluster

This work forms part of the Erupting Cloud Cluster series of sculptures. It is the largest and tallest from the sequence. A matt bronze glaze flows down onto the golden cluster of clouds from the tangled network of webbing. This sculpture modelled by hand was a challenge to place in the kiln. It was shown and sold at Alveston Fine Art at the end of 2019.

Height 54 cm
Length 45 cm
Width 35 cm

Photo: © Juliet Sheath
Blue Orange Fizz

This handmade sculpture is from a series of larger works called Cocoon Clouds, where the idea was to create dynamic cocoon-like forms. The glazes were developed especially for this piece so that a rust red flows around the soft blue structure. It was exhibited and sold to a collector at Cloudspotting, a solo show with Jason Jacques Gallery in New York.

Height 38 cm
Length 43 cm
Width 35 cm

Photo: © Juliet Sheath
Swimming Cloud

This handmade sculpture forms part of a series of larger works called Cocoon Clouds where the idea was to create dynamic cocoon-like forms. A metallic mesh flows and digresses around the biomorphic structure so that it appears to be swimming freely, reminding one of the transience of life. This recent work was made for Alveston Fine Art in London’s Notting Hill.

Height 50 cm
Length 56 cm
Width 30 cm

Enjoy an experience with Tessa Eastman

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