Local Design: Ash Ceramics

INTERVIEWED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES courtesy of Catherine Ash

Having previously featured Catherine Ash of Ash Ceramics in 2015, when she was one of Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives, we thought it was time to catch up with this ceramic artist to find out what’s been happening.

Your aesthetic has changed quite a bit since we last chatted to you in 2015. How do you think your work has changed?

Yes, my work has definitely changed a bit. I think it is natural for creativity to grow as a person learns more about a medium. I have also been focusing more on the product itself and its functionality in everyday life. This way, I have been able to create products that are not just aesthetically focused, but user-friendly as well. I have been able to experiment a lot over the last few years and I have found a way to create and produce my products efficiently, as well as having creative freedom with my hand-painted surface designs.

All my designs are individually taped off and then painted by hand, making every piece unique and slightly different to its siblings :) . . . . . #ceramics #handmade #handpainted #design #capetown #shoplocal #colourupyourlife #colour

A post shared by Ash Ceramics (@ash_ceramics) on Jul 28, 2018 at 1:56am PDT

What inspires your work?

My inspiration changes quite frequently, but the one thing that has stayed constant is my admiration for different colour combinations on different forms or objects.

What do you love most about working with colour?

Colour can add so many dimensions to a piece and playing around with different colours and forms always stays exciting. I also find that it adds a light-heartedness to my life, as I use most of my own wares at home. I hope that it also brings a playfulness to everyone who has and uses my pieces.

Which ceramicist would you most like to collaborate with, and why?

I would much prefer to collaborate with an artist who is not a ceramicist. I find collaborations work best if both people are good at different aspects and processes of the work. At the beginning of the year I started a collab with Al Luke (from Mrs + Mr Luke) and I am very excited to continue creating new work with him and hopefully with Faatimah Mohamed-Luke, too.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

I am currently busy moving to a new studio and will open my first retail space at the end of September. I am also always designing and working on new products. Two new products will be launched along with my new space in Woodstock in a couple of months time.

Ash Ceramics pieces are available at Fabricate and Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, at The Golden Goose Artistry in Pretoria, at OR Tambo’s True Story in Joburg, at Moors in Bloemfontein and at The Collective in Namibia. Follow Ash Ceramics on Instagram to keep up to date with new releases.