Ceramics Par Hasard
Her practice centers on creating one-of-a-kind Nerikomi vessels that sit between utility and sculpture. Nerikomi (from the Japanese neri, meaning kneading or mixing, and komi, meaning into) is a hand-building technique in which contrasting clay bodies are layered, folded, stacked, and compressed to produce patterns that run through the clay itself—patterns that are intrinsic rather than applied.
Carly’s approach to Nerikomi is largely experimental and intuitive. Rather than precisely planning how a pattern will unfold across a vessel, much of the process is left to chance, allowing material behavior and process to guide the final pattern while the overall form remains consistent.
Each vessel is composed of two or more clay bodies and takes approximately eight weeks to complete. The process includes building the Nerikomi block through repeated stacking, slicing, and folding; forming patterned slabs; drying them to a precise stage; constructing the vessel; carving away the surface to expose the pattern; and slowly drying the piece to accommodate varied shrinkage rates. The work is then bisque fired, glazed, and glaze fired in a high-fire Cone 10 reduction atmosphere. Most pieces are left unglazed on the exterior, revealing the patterns generated through this process. Others are glazed with Shino glazes, prized for their ability to trap carbon during firing and for their unpredictability, producing surfaces that range from metallic sheens to red undertones and green hues.
The work reflects an ongoing negotiation between control and chance, where consistency of form creates space for material unpredictability.
Catalogue of items available for purchase are listed below as For Sale. For purchasing and custom commissions, please email ceramicsparhasard@gmail.com. Items are available to ship in the US.