Ann Rikkers

Ceramics has always been a long process for me. From the construction of the clay coil through the drying process, the firing and finally the glazing… My patience has often been tested… A fellow ceramist once remarked to me that my work had a very architectural feel to it and that I might be able to work more quickly with sheet metal.

This way of working has indeed given me much more freedom. As soon as the clay slabs are unrolled, my creativity is in full swing. A vague idea then emerges as to what shape I finally want to achieve, what design I want to print and what color glaze I might use. It all starts with the first shape that I cut out of the clay plate. I build on that. It’s like playing with Lego and it can go in any direction.

Thanks to my training in graphic design, I am fascinated by textures and structures. I draw my inspiration from my environment, from the street: manhole covers, basements closed by iron plates… They often have beautiful textures on which you can easily roll the clay plate. This allows me to make the link between my graphic work and my ceramics.