Using clay, Sharon Griffin sculpts the figure and the face, capturing the essence of the universal human condition in its rawest sense.
Oxides, slips and glazes are ‘drawn’ into the surfaces of the clay creating textured, multi-layered works of art which are highly emotive and full of energy. Her intuitive gestural mark-making and extensive knowledge of portraiture allows her to play with the human anatomy, specifically the human face; merging traditional making techniques with contemporary figurative ceramics.
Drawing upon her passion for education, psychology and story-telling, Sharon makes work to provide a platform where discussions surrounding identity can take place. Preferring to allow the clay to speak, she ‘finds’ the features within the clay, producing imaginative characters which we all might identify with.
Her work can be uplifting, joyful and slightly unnerving.
Sharon uses stoneware clay with slips, engobes and oxides, as well as synthetic glaze stains along with found local clays. Her work is ‘once fired’ using an electric kiln.
Sharon studied ceramics and glass at the University of Wolverhampton and worked as Lecturer of Art & Design before working as a full-time artist in 2014. Since then, her work has been widely exhibited in the UK and can be found in private and public collections.
Sharon works and lives in Wellington, Shropshire with her family where she grew up. Her relationship with the landscape and connection to the earth provides an endless supply of inspiration. This is key for her emotional and physical wellbeing.
