Lively forms of clay
- Anna is an entirely self-taught ceramicist
- Her style blends Japanese influences and textile elements
- She allows imperfections to give character to her pieces
Anna Mansel-Pleydell's unexpected discovery of clay during her logotherapy studies was transformative. What began as a spontaneous experiment among friends grew into an all-consuming passion. Deeply influenced by Japanese aesthetics, Anna developed a language of textured, woven and layered forms that feel alive in their intentional imperfection. Echoes of ikebana baskets, mending techniques and textiles appear in ceramics that seem folded, stitched or draped. She shapes each piece slowly in her Vienna studio, balancing discipline and intuition. "Each of my works is a reflection of my emotions, experimentation and belief that objects are like people, living and not perfect," Anna says.
Interview
- How does your process unfold?
- I sketch loosely, but I do not bind myself to a fixed form. I begin knowing only the starting point, never the outcome. I build, remove, rework and return hours later, waiting for the moment the piece becomes coherent in itself. That moment of knowing when to stop is often the hardest part.
- What inspires your ceramics?
- Japan is my strongest influence. My pieces are deeply inspired by ikebana baskets, their philosophy, their woven lightness and the idea that an object can be both functional and sculptural. I also draw from textile traditions like boro repair, as well as aged walls, mossy stones and anything that carries traces of time and touch.
- How do you track your work's evolution?
- I document every single piece. I keep detailed notes in my ceramics book, where I record what I tried, what failed and what worked. Without these records, I would have to reinvent everything on a daily basis. This archive helps me learn, refine and move forward.
- What life lesson has your craft taught you?
- Clay taught me discipline and trust. I work every day, because each piece needs time, rhythm and flow. It also taught me acceptance, as nothing is perfect. I may overwork or have some doubts, but in the end, the piece reflects me and that is what counts.
Anna Mansel-Pleydell is a rising star: she began her career in 2021
Where
Anna Mansel-Pleydell
