Steven Edwards

Ceramicist

Manipulating the clay

Steven explores the materiality and physicality of clay
He applies a process-led approach to making
He throws and manipulates closed airtight forms using Parian clay

Intrigued by art from an early age, Steven Edwards discovered ceramics at school when he was asked to 3D sketch a life model with clay and enjoyed the spontaneity of the process. “Experiencing a new material to express my ideas was fascinating” he remembers, and to explore clay further he decided to do the designer/maker course at college. In 2018, he achieved an MA in Ceramics at Farnham University for the Creative Arts. Interested in process-led making, the artist uses simple tools and traditional techniques to explore unanticipated outcomes, in particular revealing properties when clay is placed under tension. By constantly manipulating the clay’s limits, he attempts to create objects that reference a balance between technical handmade forms and mechanised mark making.

Interview

Why do you like Parian clay?: Parian porcelain clay is a particularly challenging clay that has limited plasticity for throwing. Over time, I have adapted skills to gain greater control of the clay, including additions to the clay body and controlled atmospheres for drying and firing.
From where did you get your inspiration?: Materials, whether natural or man-made, capture my attention and imagination. I have adapted this way of seeing from my background in graphic design, where I view everything obsessively through the lens of design aesthetics, shapes and language. I’m influenced by the work of artists.
Which artists do you particularly admire?: Akiyama Yo, Adrián Villa Rojas, Anish Kapoor, Joseph Beuys and Richard Serra. Their works demonstrate pushing the limits of materials by manipulating tools and techniques to explore unanticipated outcomes and exposing their natural properties.
How would you define what you do?: I make ceramic vessel sculptures, which are inspired by an ongoing interest in both form and the making process. I apply specific steps to explore the materiality and physicality of clay. The process I use pushes the limits of the clay to provoke a reaction and reveal aesthetic qualities that give the sculptures character and form.

Steven Edwards is a rising star: he began his career in 2018