Life cycles in clay
- Toni creates clay sculptures from wheel-thrown components
- The observation of life cycles is her primary source of inspiration
- She enjoys teaching and mentoring young potters and artists
Toni Losey grew up in an artistic family and started practising her craft in 1995, straight out of high school. She began as a potter, making decorative and functional objects, and exhibited in galleries across Canada and the USA. She decided to explore clay as an artist, and went back to school for a BA in fine arts in 2016. Since then, Toni has created sculptures inspired by lichen, slime moulds, moss and her garden. "I apply the same wheel throwing techniques I had used to make my pots, and supplement these parts with coiled and hand built elements," she explains. The sculptures are sprayed with slips, underglazes and glazes then fired to create highly textural surfaces that express the cycles of growth and decay. Alongside her studio practice, Toni teaches entrepreneurship at NSCAD and leads workshops across North America and the UK, mentoring emerging makers.
Interview
- When did you know ceramics were your path?
- I started working with clay at age 14 in high school. At first, I hated it, the learning curve was steep, and I was a perfectionist. But once I figured out how to make what I envisioned, I was completely hooked. Overcoming the struggle to master the material made the connection all the more meaningful and I knew I wanted a life in clay after that.
- Do you call yourself a potter or a ceramic artist?
- For years I called myself a potter, as I was focused on making functional work. As my practice evolved into sculpture, I shifted to calling myself a ceramic artist. It is not about rejecting pottery, but about clarity because my work has moved beyond creating for function.
- Why did you shift towards sculpture?
- After years of making functional pieces and working with galleries, I felt I had reached a ceiling. Returning to NSCAD University gave me the chance to grow. In 2017, I chose to focus on sculpture which taps into a more soulful and challenging part of me.
- Where do you find your inspiration?
- My recurring theme is life cycles: growth, decline, regeneration. I look to lichen, slime moulds and moss, but also to my garden, where I watch plants emerge, fade and return. Recently, that cycle of loss and renewal has become even more personal through family events. It continues to shape the direction of my work.
Toni Losey is a master artisan: she began her career in 1995 and she started teaching in 2005
