Camilla Hanney

Ceramicist | London, United Kingdom

Porcelain narratives of femininity and fragility

Camilla handcrafts fantastical bodies through porcelain
She has received several awards for her sculptures
She adds fine details to her pieces such as gold lustre and varied glazes

Camilla Hanney is an Irish artist living and working in London. Her ceramic sculptures are both narrative and figurative, and explore issues surrounding time, sexuality, identity and the corporeal, often referencing the body in both humorous and challenging ways. Camilla's work straddles the boundaries of craft and contemporary art, subverting the traditional, genteel properties of porcelain to transgress and contemplate conventional modes of femininity. Since moving to London, Camilla’s work has been exhibited by a diverse range of galleries including the South London Gallery in conjunction with Bloomberg New Contemporaries, The Royal Sculpture Society, Messums, and Cynthia Corbett Gallery. In 2019 Camilla was recipient of the Sarabande: Lee Alexander McQueen Foundation studio bursary. She was granted the UK Young Artist of the Year runner-up award at the inaugural ceremony held at Saatchi in 2020 and was recipient of the 2022 Newbury Trust Craft Excellence Award in conjunction with Cockpit Arts. Her work has been featured in articles by Ceramic Review, Crafts Magazine, Elephant Magazine, Wallpapermag, Showstudio, Mission Mag and Harpers Bazaar.

Interview

What motivated you to choose your medium?: The malleable properties of clay provide freedom of form, permitting the body to be described in fantastical ways. Porcelain in particular conveys opposing states, heavy, solid and strong in contrast to light, breakable and soft.
What is the most important aptitude needed to do what you do?: Patience! Ceramics can be incredibly temperamental. I think a thick skin is also necessary in a field that at times is ripe with criticism and solitude.
How do you share your skills and expertise?: I have an open-door policy when it comes to my studio and enjoy hosting studio visits for creative enthusiasts and professionals.
Where is your work most appreciated?: My work is best appreciated in gallery spaces and museums. However my ceramics have also been displayed and sold in luxury departments and boutiques, during pop-up events.

Camilla Hanney is a rising star: she began her career in 2019