BEAUTY: Ceramic Sculpture--Louise Fulton

I am entranced by the incredible ceramic faces by Australian artist Louise Fulton. The variety of glazes, colors, textures, and shapes she employs makes each face so unique.

You can purchase one of her creations at her site!
https://louisefultonstudio.com/

BEAUTY: Sculpture--Nadia Stieglitz

For her series Symbiotic, ceramic sculptor Nadia Stieglitz looked to the world of trees and fungi to create the wonderful, meandering, incised lines on her creations. She describes it in her artist statement for the series:

"I have been recently fascinated by the research of various scientists on the impacts of climate change on forests and the reliance of these ecosystems on the unseen work of fungus to adapt to it. My most recent work takes inspiration from mycorrhizal fungi – critical members of the plant microbiome that form a symbiosis with the roots of most plants on Earth. In my series 'Symbiotic,' the Sgraffito patterns etched onto the surface of mushroom-like shapes recall these complex networks that feed and support the functions of larger organisms. In their dormancy, these works remind the viewer that, despite appearances, there is always growth and circulation--life, ultimately, in stillness."

To see more of her work or to learn how to buy and commission pieces, visit her website:
https://www.nadiastieglitz.com/

BEAUTY: Sculpture--Matias Karsikas

Finnish artist Mataias Karsikas' compelling series Rykelmä features a fantastic juxtaposition of wood with glass and ceramic. His Artist Statement explains:

"In the artworks titled Rykelmä, glazed ceramics and mouth-blown glass meet nature-shaped wood. The ceramics are mineral-like, the glass is pouring, and the wood is untreated. Instead of portraying figures and landscapes, abstract textures and diverse surfaces are drawn from nature, thus manifesting the essence of the natural world. The visual starting point for the pieces has been, for example, slime molds that grow in clusters on the surfaces of decaying trees. The viewer can perceive in the works the resin-dripping branch of a tree or the melting of a frost covered moss under the spring sun."

He sells pieces on his site!
https://matiaskarsikas.com/

BEAUTY: Sculpture--Patrick Bergsman

Sometimes an artist will hit upon an idea that seems so crystal clearly obvious that one wonders why no one thought of it before. Perhaps it is because people tend to overlook what is right in front of them...

Dutch artist Patrick Bergsman hit upon a genius idea to show bonsai trees growing too large for and bursting out of Asian ceramic containers. This thrillingly unique idea speaks to the unstoppable power of nature, even in something so deliberately diminutive as a bonsai tree...just how a weed grows up through a crack in cement and splits the material in two, these bonsais are determined to live their lives. It is an inspiring idea. And to make sure that these creations stay illustrated just how he wants, Bergsman actually crafts each realistic-looking bonsai out of coconut fibre, polymers, kaolin and quartz. Amazing.

https://patrickbergsma.nl/

BEAUTY: Ceramics--Kazuhito Kawai

Piles and mounds and scoops of gelato and sorbet and hard candy and cookies and royal icing all topped with sprinkles (and an occasional straw for sipping!) blissfully melt away in the whimsical, unexpected ceramic work of Japanese artist Kazuhito Kawai. Delightful!

https://www.kazuhitokawai.com/