Freya Bramble-Carter
Born in London in 1991 Freya Bramble-Carter has been immersed in the world of ceramics from a young age, thanks to her father Chris Bramble, a London-based artist and ceramicist.
She graduated from the Chelsea School of Arts in 2013, after which she decided to go back to dedicate her time to exploring clay, and to help her father manage his ceramic studio in West Hamstead.
She says: “So it begins when I pick up a ball of clay and knead it, sometimes endlessly until it is stiff enough and elastic enough to use. If you were digging this up fresh from the ground it usually would need time to mature like cheese. These early stages are all great for me, as it is very inspiring and fascinating to witness yourself in the process of transformation as I take this object on a journey with me of manipulation, moisture, and heat.”
Bramble-Carter’s work is influenced by the notion of flow: through water- she likes the motif of the vessel, and of the fountain which both care to contain water; through movement, that involves her physically travelling to far-away tropical and equatorial places of lush forests such as Ghana, some parts of Mexico, the Bahamas, Bali, or Sri Lanka, which is entirely part of her practice; and through the practice of yogic postures.
Her search is foremost around the essence of nature. She explores the notions of the body, through the organic, the floral, yet also the carnal. She attempts to capture a form of lusciousness, of joy, as well as a quality of dreaminess that reminds the painterly practice of Peter Doig and his followers.
Bramble-Carter’s work is more painterly than sculptural. She enjoys experimenting with a lot of glazes, of a variety of textures and colours, picking up glazes of the opposite colour. Looking into beautiful emerald hues of green, turquoise, and mossy browns, she adds volcanic textures which bubble and give a fascinating texture. These combinations leave the final object feeling as though it has just been dug out of the ground.
Yet her work also expresses ruptures, and tensions, through sharp edges, intentional breakages- for example the beautiful corolla-like openings of her vessels, which contradict her floral, often frilly formations of life, giving her pieces an edge. Bramble-Carter’s practice involves sharing, techniques, and skills with the community of her father’s Studio where she often teaches and mentors. She also likes collaborations with other artists.
