Judi Tavill’s ceramic sculptures are much more than that – they’re forms that blossom, breathe in and out, and twist and turn, reminding of a living organism or a coral reef. Inspired by textures and shapes found in nature, she enjoys frequent travels with her family and finds that it reinvigorates and inspires her work.
“Sea creatures and weather formations, fabric folds and textile richness or historic ceramic techniques all come together to inspire the form and texture of the work,” reads her website.
Working from her studio based on the oceanic shore of New Jersey, her process includes wheel throwing and hand-building, altering and distorting forms before deeply carving, hand texturing and surface detailing her one-of-a-kind vessels.
Firing the clay twice allows for the addition of delicate glazing work and the melting of glass frit (crushed glass) for additional surface interest. According to her, this process is long and involved, requiring both planning and improvisation.
But it took her time and effort to find her artistic voice. After leaving her career in fashion to pursue her art interests in 2002 and delving into various mediums, she finally came across clay in 2003. She now exhibits her vessels around the United States, on top of more than 20k followers on Instagram.
