Artist Interview with Ceramicist Phoebe Turner

Phoebe Turner, Australian ceramic artist in her home studio, The Corner Store Gallery.

Artist Interview with Phoebe Turner

We’re delighted to share a conversation with Phoebe Turner, a ceramic artist whose whimsical, floral and beautifully wonky vessels immediately caught our attention. I first discovered Phoebe’s work around 12 months ago while on holiday on the far South Coast, where she was part of a local artisan collective in Pambula (since disbanded). I fell instantly, and very loudly, in love with her work, and was lucky enough to meet Phoebe in person. We recently caught up again in Bega while on holiday, which felt like a perfect full-circle moment.

Phoebe’s practice is deeply intuitive and meditative. Clay is a daily ritual, a way of processing inner life through touch, balance and experimentation. Drawing subtle inspiration from time spent in nature, and guided by instinct rather than fixed outcomes, her vessels emerge through a playful yet considered making process. In this interview, Phoebe shares her relationship with clay, her love of experimentation, and why the vessel continues to be a form she returns to with enduring excitement.

Beautiful handmade ceramic art by Phoebe Turner.

Can you describe your relationship with clay and how it first became part of your practice?

Clay is a daily practice for me.  It's the best medium I've come across for enabling me to express my inner stuff.  It's a meditation - while working, thoughts and feelings come and go - I can notice them with curiosity without buying into them.  My dad's also been a handbuilder since I was little; I've only come to clay seriously in the last three years, but it's always been a part of my life story.

How does your environment or daily life influence the forms, textures, or surfaces in your work?

I spend a lot of time (as much as I can) in nature.  While I don't generally set to work with a design in mind I notice that a lot of the textures and colours that I eventually use are inspired by trips to rockpools or fungi that I've seen on walks.  I'm also a sucker for experimentation, and my surfaces often reflect that.

Phoebe’s light-filled home studio.

Can you talk us through your making process, from initial idea to finished piece?

My initial idea is mostly subconscious.  Nine times out of 10 I'll start with a pinch pot as my foundation and let the clay and my hands do their dance until the clay becomes unstable or unworkable.  That's when I know the form is done.  Once the piece has been fired, I'll set out with more intention, matching glazes to the form.  It's common for a single piece to have upwards of five different glazes, underglazes, slips and oxides on it.  Then I'll put it in for its final firing.  That's when the magic happens and the glazes meld into what you see on the shelf.

Has your practice shifted or evolved in recent years, and if so, how?

I'm relatively new to ceramics - I've been working at it for about three years - but my practice has definitely shifted as I've learnt to let go of perceived outcomes and also become more confident in experimentation.  That said, the forms haven't evolved a lot - I still get excited about making vessels!!

Ceramic art by Phoebe Turner.

Details from Phoebe’s ceramic studio.

Phoebe Turner’s ceramic studio.

Phoebe Turner, ceramics artwork detail.

Phoebe Turner’s ceramic studio.

Handmade ceramics by Phoebe Turner.

Handmade ceramics by Phoebe Turner.