Jacques Monneraud
Ceramicist
Bayonne, France
Clay in a cardboard disguise
- Jacques creates stoneware pieces that mimic cardboard
- His practice nods to overconsumption and the fragility of his materials
- He takes inspiration from ancient ceramic forms in his playful vessels
After several years working in communications and art direction, Jacques Monneraud earned a professional certificate in ceramic wheel throwing in 2022. In his studio, which he opened in Bayonne in 2025, he creates stoneware pieces whose colour and texture mimic cardboard. Pieces are left unglazed except for small details rendered in glaze to simulate tape, leading to a trompe-l’œil effect. Jacques blends different stonewares to achieve a colour and grain close to that of cardboard, and he works primarily with craft knife blades to create precise, clean cuts. His pieces reference ancient ceramics, from Chinese dragonfish-handled vases to Egyptian canopic jars and ancient Inca vessels, while offering a playful approach via the material confusion. “I want to spark a sense of wonder,” he says.
INTERVIEW
I had a background in illustration, photography and graphic design, and my family carried a tradition of working with their hands through sculpture, painting and woodworking. By chance, I came across a YouTube video of an English craftsman at the wheel and it piqued my interest.
I accidentally came across a shade that reminded me of cardboard when I was blending different stonewares. The contrast between ceramics, which can last for millennia, and cardboard, which breaks down quickly, led me to pursue this idea. It became a way to freeze a humble and fragile material in time.
I start with a drawing, then throw the piece in one single form before adding additional elements to it. I work with craft knife blades for clean cuts. Managing the drying process is lengthy and precise. A piece can take nearly a month to make from start to finish.
When people touch a piece and realise that it is not cardboard, I see a light switch on, right in their eyes. It gives them a few seconds of rediscovered childhood wonder, regardless of their age or background.
Jacques Monneraud
Ceramicist
Bayonne, France
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Bayonne, France
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
French, English
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