tdlPottery is the clay child of ceramicist Tamzin Lurlay and began with functional ceramics made for the table; each piece slowly made by hand using the same processes that have been used for thousands of years. As a result each piece is literally a one-of-one. tdlPottery then evolved into ceramics-for-every-room with new lines in lamps, vases, sculptures, and more. The same traditional processes are still used; each piece is slowly made by hand with slight but intentional variations in form and finish. This unique style of production is intentionally sustainable, using less water and resulting in less waste.

Lurlay’s functional pieces are both an artistic pushback against a culture of overconsumption and a celebration of the art found in everyday objects. Irregular shapes, intentional distortions, and individual finishes are purposeful; a deliberate indication of the humanity of the artist. Each piece is an invitation to slow down, to appreciate being over doing, and to acknowledge beauty in the mundane objects we use everyday.

Lurlay’s figurative pieces explore the body as language, a new form of communication that transcends traditional concepts. Using clay to embody the full spectrum of human emotion, the simplified, slightly distorted figures are both a physical representation of the human mind-body connection and a means of exploring the artist’s own humanity. 

Whether strictly functional or figurative, Lurlay accepts certain “flaws” as an integral part of this practice and it represents both her commitment to sustainability and to documenting the unique nature of being human. She understands that the creating and firing processes occasionally have ideas of their own to contribute to the finished work. These “flawed” pieces are even more unique and unrepeatable than the rest of the collection and are all fit for purpose.

every artist asks the question, 'what is art' & then answers it with their work.              --aoife lurlay