Mary Johnson is a ceramicist working in slip-decorated red earthenware. Her vessels are thrown and then developed through a combination of painting, glazing, and sgraffito, creating lively, layered surfaces.
Her imagery is drawn directly from sketches made in her garden and allotment, where close observation informs her distinctive visual language. Broad, expressive brushstrokes are paired with finely incised detail, bringing pots to life with insects, leaves, and overlooked elements of the natural world.
Artist Statement:
“These pots celebrate decayed roofing felt, earwigs and rusting wheelbarrows. Without them life would be infinitely dull and sterile.”