Honor Freeman

Ceramicist

©Alex Beckett

On themes of nostalgia, soap and kintsugi

Honor draws inspiration from everyday objects
She is fascinated by clay's versatility and texture
Margaret Dodd's Holden car series still captivates her

Honor Freeman's passion for ceramics ignited in a high school art room under the guidance of her enthusiastic teacher, Rose. After earning her degree from the South Australian School of Art in 2001, Honor joined JamFactory, a not-for-profit organisation promoting craftsmanship in Australia, as an Associate and later as a tenant, where she refined her craft. Her work delves into themes of time, memory, and nostalgia. By crafting pieces that evoke a sense of longing and reminiscence, she creates art that connects deeply with the past while creating a spark in the present. Honor values clay’s humble origins and the transformative magic of firing, which continuously challenges and inspires her. Her creative process merges traditional techniques with modern interpretations, resonating with viewers through both emotional depth and materiality.

Interview

©Alex Beckett

©Angus Forbes

How do you get started on a work?: I often start with the familiar: a familiar series of work, processes or production. It is in this familiarity that the mind has space to dream, think and that ideas can evolve. Clay is also a material with which once work has commenced you cannot simply abandon it, otherwise things will dry and crack and become unsalvageable. It demands of you to turn up, to tend, to be patient.
Do you use a unique technique to balance tradition and innovation?: I often exploit the industrial process of slip casting to make multiples, but always from a sculptural perspective, playing with the technique to see where I can push and stretch the process and material.
Is there a link between your work and the place where you live?: I think my work, the objects and the ideas I explore are somewhat universal, in this way they reflect where I live, but not uniquely or specifically.
What are your plans for the future?: Currently I am working on a new body of work for an upcoming solo exhibition at Sabbia Gallery, Sydney in October 2024. I am also helping to facilitate a ceramic mural at my children’s local primary school that will celebrate 150 years in 2024.

Honor Freeman is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2000