Celebrating the riches of an ever-changing island
- Chloé Rosetta engages with the landscape of the Isle of Wight to produce her ceramic pieces
- She examines the influence of the Undercliff, one of the largest areas of urban landslide in Europe
- She develops her glazes from natural waste materials
Chloé Rosetta Bell's pieces are vessels of stories and memories of the Isle of Wight’s protean landscape and the livelihoods dependent upon it. Chloé earned a first-class Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Craft from the Plymouth College of Art, and received The Griffin Scholarship for Master’s studies at the Royal College of Art. This is where she examined the translation of nature to craft. The swirling tides of the mid-English Channel recently brought to the artist’s attention an ancient fossilised wood, which she used in her recent works. Through her use of the potter's wheel, Chloé brings stories of a unique landscape to those who encounter her objects. From Cornish oyster shells to salt residue from Anglesey, she makes her glazes with found and natural materials, relishing the depth that the narratives embedded within them bring to her work.
Interview
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
- My work is closely tied to the landscape around my home on the Isle of Wight. The Undercliff’s landscape changes every year due to landslides. I learn about the land and its materials through hands-on exploration, testing them in my studio.
- What draws you to the materials that you work with?
- I am drawn to materials with historical context and connection to daily life. Lately, I have been working with a fossilised wood—roughly 8,000 years old—that gets caught in the lobster and crab pots of Ed, a local fisherman.
- Where does your love for your craft come from?
- It comes from a fascination with the repetition of forms in objects from the past, and how materials have since evolved. There is a quiet sincerity in the objects we have needed throughout history, and I am drawn to the blend of tradition and innovation.
- What does your work process usually look like?
- I visualise the collection, sketch, and then start throwing on the wheel. The forms tend to evolve as I work, and after refining them, they go through multiple firings in the gas kiln. Once the forms are ready, I finish them with metal bases or lids.
Chloé Rosetta Bell is a rising star: she began her career in 2017
Works
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Chloé Rosetta Bell
