Kirsty Adams

Ceramicist

©Clare Bowes

©Michael Lawler

©Yeshen Venema

Faithful to simple forms

Kirsty is a widely recognised UK ceramist
She is deeply influenced by the simplicity of Japanese ceramic forms
One of her collections celebrates the Icelandic “otherworldliness”

Since the late 1990s, Kirsty Adams has been refining her practice on the potter’s wheel, to capture and express the essence of her ceramic craftsmanship. She is fascinated and highly influenced by the Japanese ceramic masters. In fact, she went to Japan for two years at the beginning of her career to learn Japanese techniques and refine her practice. Kirsty creates unique pieces whose simplicity of forms and delicacy express an outstanding mastery of the wheel’s work. Her collections, including the bespoke range designed for the National Trust's Artisan and Craft Collection, investigate and celebrate several techniques that she mixes together in order to pursue the most challenging and sophisticated of goals: simplicity and spontaneity.

Interview

©Michael Lawler

©Michael Lawler

How did you start?: I was born in a family encouraging creativity and self-expression so I went to Art college in Brighton. The key experience in terms of education was the two-year period I spent in Japan where I practised on the potter’s wheel and learned as much as I could in terms of techniques.
Why did you choose Japan?: I am fascinated by their approach to pottery, which is like a philosophy. It is not just about the simplicity of the forms and the purity of the aesthetics, it is about the process itself. Every piece should maintain a trace of how it was made, an element of spontaneity.
What is your process?: I mix elements and I mix techniques, almost like an alchemist. I can work with different clays, different glazes, different techniques, yet staying faithful to simple shapes. My Icelandic collection is a good example: I wanted to create something unseen, to express the otherworldliness of that incredible land.
Are all your works the result of your individual research?: I work on a variety of projects, including more functional and commercial pieces, but even when I create on a commission basis, like I did recently when I designed for the National Trust's Artisan and Craft Collection, all my pieces are extremely personal.

Kirsty Adams is a master artisan: she began her career in 1995 and she started teaching in 1999