Cleo Mussi

Breakers for makers

• Cleo uses repurposed ceramic tableware
• Her pieces are full of life
• Her work is fun but deadly serious

Surrounded by a visual riot of colour and pattern, Cleo Mussi creates ceramic mosaics with an evocative sense of narrative. Cleo has huge drive and an unwavering work ethic, likely inherited from her great grandfather who owned a successful chocolate business, garage and hairdresser. She is self-taught and has developed a personal, distinctive style. Her work is a celebration of ceramic tradition in the UK, reusing discarded pieces which have their origins in iconic factories such as Wedgwood, Burleigh, Stafford or Royal Worcester. Each piece has a story and a history, she aims to balance humour with a keen sense of insight, bringing to life what would otherwise be materials destined for landfill.

Interview

©Ben Wright

©Cleo Mussi

Where do you get your ideas?

I usually spend time researching a particular subject, most recently evolution, the environment and the migration of plants alongside humans. While I work with the ceramic, they start to tell a story of their own, so my role is to marshal and play with words simultaneously.

Do you get attached to your pieces?

Yes, there is a mythology around each work. I always keep a piece from each exhibition. Sometimes it can be very hard to part with particular works, especially when you know you may never find a piece of china like that ever again.

What do you love most about your profession?

I love making. My work can have strange twists of humour and double meanings. I enjoy the response the work creates when people view it, and seeing how different people interact with it. I feel fortunate that I can make a living from what I create.

Is there a piece you are particularly proud of?

My large installations can take up to three years to create, and my largest piece was for John Lewis Department Store in Solihull. I created it when my children were very small and I was under huge pressure. Today I am still amazed at what I achieved.

Cleo Mussi is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1998

Works

©Cleo Mussi

©Cleo Mussi

©Cleo Mussi

©Cleo Mussi

©Cleo Mussi

Where