Hayley Fuller
Brighton, United Kingdom
Artist Statement
I create contemporary organic sculptures inspired by the beauty and intricacy of nature. The natural, soft, rock qualities of the clay are left unglazed for natural effects or burnished and smoked. I also like to experiment with copper mat glaze.
What type of clay do you use?
Stoneware and Raku clays
What temperature do you fire to?
Depends on the clay body, but generally 1250° and above
What is your primary forming method?
All my work is handbuilt with slabs or coils.
What is your favorite surface treatment?
Naked raku
Do you make any of your own tools?
I use whatever comes to hand.
What one word would you use to describe your work?
Natural
What are your top three studio wishes?
Bigger kiln, more shelving, and easy access to the outside.
How do you save money on materials and supplies?
Recycling all my clay waste.
How do you recharge creatively?
Walking on the beach, visiting exhibitions and galleries, and immersing myself into research for my next theme.
What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
To create and fire larger pieces in situ.
What did your first piece look like?
It was a round-bottomed, spiral-coiled pot finished with a lovely copper verdigris colored glaze.
What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
To be able to create enormous pieces in situ so I could produce impressive commissioned ceramic sculptures around the world.
Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
I don't have a mentor but am a big fan of the work of Akiyama Yo.
What is your studio playlist?
Anything from classic or world music to heavy metal with lots of reggae and blues in between.
Why do you create art?
Because it soothes me, is a form of meditation, and for the satisfaction I feel when I see I have created something unique and beautiful.
If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
That it didn't need firing; kiln size restrictions are a nuisance; and to avoid cracking!
