Through 40 Years in Clay, nationally recognised maker Anna Lambert presents a new collection of handbuilt earthenware ceramics celebrating the landscape.
Influenced by a practice of landscape drawing, these works evoke Anna’s emotional attachment to place – her own valley in Yorkshire and the land around her mother’s home, amongst others.
She creates three-dimensional paintings through her work; carefully considered forms merge with surface scenes of trees, field edges and orchards. Assembling her pieces from slabs of clay, she then alters, cuts and fettles them, occasionally adding sections of texture from carved or linocut designs. Through her surface designs she explores narratives relating to climate change in the local landscape and the regeneration of orchards.
In this poignant exhibition, Anna explores a newfound sense of space, light and simplicity in her forms and surfaces. She also implements new colours made from mixing slips, oxides and body stains to bring more subtlety to her palette.
“Through my education, practice and persistence I have developed a unique method with an aim of utilising the versatility of clay to its potential.”
“My making process is a daily repetition in a calm and quiet place. My work is a reflection of thoughts and sensibility in these moments of making.”
“I am wary of having a formula, thinking I have cracked the code… The feeling of satisfaction is surely my enemy. I need to stay focused on trying to create work that has real freedom in it, freedom from materials, method or mentality.”
“Central to my work is the concept of the vessel: creating associations with sharing, ritual and celebration, reminders of our humanity, our history and connection with nature.”