Helen Long is a ceramic artist, making bespoke work focusing on the medium of porcelain.
My work originates in the vessel form, a timeless symbol of containment, femininity, new life, and hope. While my practice has evolved, this symbolic foundation continues to inform my approach to creating ceramics.
My focus is on handbuilding techniques, allowing me to explore more organic forms and patterns. I primarily work in porcelain, a material that fascinates me with its silkiness, translucency, brilliant whiteness, and its long, storied history. Porcelain’s unique qualities lend themselves beautifully to my exploration of themes such as light, fragility, and resilience, reflecting the human experience in tangible form.
Recently, I have been exploring Nerikomi, an intricate Japanese art form which exploits the harmonious blending of contrasting clay colours to create stunning patterns. Each layer of coloured clay is carefully arranged to complement and enhance the others. Inspiration for my work often comes from human interactions. The Nerikomi technique mirrors the concept of complementary relationships, where differences coexist to form something greater than the sum of their parts. The seamless interplay of the resulting textures and hues serves as a visual metaphor for balance and mutual enhancement, making it a poignant artistic expression of this theme.
A commitment to sustainability is increasingly central to my practice. I work toward minimizing the environmental impact of my ceramics by using solar energy in my studio, firing my work once whenever possible (rather than the traditional two firings), and sourcing materials as locally as I can. I also avoid purchasing materials where there is evidence of labour exploitation, aligning my work with ethical principles and respect for the people and places involved in the creative process.
Helen Long b. 1961
Education:
UCA, Farnham. 2016-2017. Access to Higher Education
UCA, Farnham, 2017-2020. Ba (hons) Ceramics
Exhibitions:
ISCAEE 2019. (Korea).
Heathlands Artworks Project 2020
September Ceramics 2021-24 (City Arts Newbury)
Open Studios West Berkshire 2020 to date.
Teaching:
Sessional teacher 318 Ceramics, Farnham in 2019.
Sessional Teacher at City Arts Newbury