Mart Schrijvers

Ceramicist

The fragments that make the whole

Mart crafts clay sculptures that capture details such as petals and mushrooms
Her creations are exhibited at the Aurélien Gendras gallery in Paris
She now exclusively works with sandstone clay, a type of ceramic fired at a high temperatures

Mart Schrijvers was a landscape designer from Belgium who studied and worked in Berlin. She fell in love with the countryside in the South of France during her visits to the family holiday home. Mart moved to the Gers region to set up her studio with her husband. Her love for the slow, natural process of working with clay emerged and grew until it became her craft. Mart studied at the Centre International de Formation aux Métiers d'Art et de la Céramique in Burgundy and with master ceramicist Claude Champy, as well as her husband Maarten Stuer, who is a ceramic sculptor, too. Mart, inspired by nature and gardens, focuses on creating unique pieces at her own pace. She emphasises the importance of craftsmanship and the artistic value in every creation, as well as remaining independent in her artistic journey.

Interview

What is special about your creative process?: My pace is exceptionally slow. Some of my pieces take weeks to make. I need to contemplate and visualise thoroughly before commencing. I make everything by hand, which takes time too, but I relish this slow, natural growth of each piece, mirroring the pace of nature.
What was the turning point for you for becoming a ceramicist?: I have always been drawn to working with soil, and then clay, even though I had no prior knowledge of ceramics. The immediate joy of creating with my hands struck me, despite being unfamiliar with the craft. There is also a technical aspect to it, and the learning process never ceases.
Do you have any advice for an artisan just starting out?: You have to persevere and love what you do. Because what good is perseverance without a genuine passion for what you do? I also think that it is crucial to remember that change is attainable. Many people feel constrained by their lives, jobs or routines, but for those who want a shift in lifestyle, it is within reach.
Is there a piece that stands out for you?: I have a genuine affection for every piece I create, well, almost all of them! One that holds a special place is the large standalone artwork I collaborated on with my husband, sculptor Maarten Stuer. I crafted the ceramic elements while he engineered the intricate iron structure within each piece.

Mart Schrijvers is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1998