‘Everybody Needs a Hug’

As an Irish ceramic artist, my work is inspired by the profound connections we share as humans, particularly the comfort and healing that comes from an embrace. Holding one another has been scientifically proven to enhance feelings of happiness and comfort. I work with porcelain and earthstone, materials that symbolize the delicate balance between strength and fragility, in both body and spirit. Porcelain, in particular, represents human frailty, which I use to mirror the vulnerability we experience in the face of loss, with each piece depicting people whom I have loved and lost.

An archive of personal photographs informs the pose, gesture and composition of the vessels, with each set representing a significant relationship. I am hopeful my vessels will remind others of meaningful connections throughout their own lives. The colour pallet is chosen to induce the feelings of comfort, calmness, connection and love.