Worcester’s Sarah Williams Perfects Clay and Ceramics Art
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Big Coffee Cup by Sarah Williams, Ceramic, 3.5' x 4'
For Worcester's Sarah Williams, any object in the world, even the most simple or mundane, can be turned into something both artistic and humorous. Throughout her successful career, she has indeed actualized this possibility with her unique artistic creations.
Just one glimpse of the front page of her website will give you an idea of what we're talking about. You will find one of her most recent pieces, a life-size ceramic coffee mug with a seat inside. The 3.5' x 4' creation is simply titled "Big Coffee Cup."
"Seeing people's reaction to that has been great," remarks the artist.
She also makes a number of smaller items that can be put to good use.
"It makes me really happy to hear that someone enjoys using my cup for their coffee in the morning or if they saw work in a gallery and enjoyed that," Sarah explains.
Sarah's Style and Materials of Choice
Williams uses a number of different styles and materials, which one can get idea of by checking out the many different series of works in her portfolio, but all her pieces center around the same desire, to put it simply, to get a lot out of a little.
"I am interested in using a variety of different mediums. It usually depends on the idea and if I am getting burnt out of working in a particular medium. I love working with clay, printmaking, drawing, a little video. Currently I have been focusing on functional ceramics with printmaking techniques, " she says.
She does have one favorite medium however for a number of different reasons. She explains.
"What I love about clay, other than its great tactile qualities, is that...the public gets to hold it and have their own intimate reaction to the work. Takes it out of the same old gallery/ pedestal mode."
Her style is similarly eclectic to her use of mediums.
"I can be a little over the place but I definitely try to incorporate my sense of humor in whatever I do. I am influenced by so many things - pop culture, Art Deco, what is happening in the world at the moment," she says.
Her Different Series And Examples of Her Work
Her "Hot out of the Kiln" and "onepiece" series show expertly completed cups, coasters, dishes, bowls, pitchers, platters, tea pots, vases, and tiles designed in many different shapes including stars, buds and teardrops. Intricate drawings and writing can also be found on many pieces, showing the wide-range of talents this artist can truly exhibit at any given time.
Many of her ceramics are truly original and strikingly beautiful at their best, tackling objects such as shoes and handbags, in addition to various cake designs, animals, and even guns and grenades. Last, but certainly not least, one should check out her eye-popping lightboxes as well.
Influences and Where Sarah's Work can be Seen
Her first influences were her teachers at High School in Westborough and Mark Lynch's film animation class at the Worcester Art Museum. She received her MFA in Sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute before returning to continue her career in Worcester.
"I...felt that SF was so saturated with artists and Worcester could always use more," she says.
Sarah's singular work has been exhibited at numerous galleries and art shows in the area including the Aurora Gallery in Worcester, the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, the Brickbottom Gallery in Somerville, and a number of other locations in Boston, Attleboro, and Cambridge. She has also exhibited numerous times in San Francisco
Her talents have been recognized by multiple organizations. Sarah was recently awarded a Worcester Arts Council Artist Fellowship Grant and she will be going on a month-long residency at the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemet, Hungary thanks to a travel grant from the Worcester Art Museum.
The future looks incredibly promising for an artist that has already achieved so much. She hopes to finish building her very own studio space and continue building a bigger and bigger presence within the Worcester art scene.
For more information on Sarah Williams and view her work please visit her website.
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