Pete Steggall

 This pliable medium holds within it the potential for immense transformation. I throw the clay on the wheel, and shapes emerge, slowly rising and expanding under my touch and cohesion. It's a dance of creation, guided by intuition and honed through years of practice. Each vessel's surface becomes a narrative space. I am drawn to the human form in its most primal state – unclothed and unadorned.
The naked figures I draw onto these pots are celebrations of the human body, each curve and line a tribute to our shared humanity. These figures are more than mere decorations. They are stories, encapsulating moments of vulnerability, strength, and the kaleidoscope of human emotions. The act of decorating each pot with these figures is deliberate and thoughtful. I use tools and techniques that allow for the intricate detailing necessary to bring these figures to life.
The process is slow and meditative, requiring a steady hand and a focused mind. Each line is scratched into soft clay - a technique called ‘sgraffito’. For me, the clay is a word in the story I am telling, a note in the melody of the human experience. Once thrown and decorated, the pots undergo the transformative power of fire. The kiln, with its intense heat, is where the raw clay and my artistic intentions fuse into a singular expression. It's a process filled with anticipation and with a degree of
unpredictability.

For me it’s a celebration of life in all its complexity, rendered in earth, mineral and fire, inviting others to explore our shared humanity.

2 products