Lori Elling
Medium: Ceramics
Location: Burnaby
Member Since: 2025
Location: Burnaby
Member Since: 2025
ABOUT
Since the early 1980s as a child on the Canadian prairies, I’ve been making with various media, from wood and fabric to paper and clay. In the spring of 2021, I reconnected with clay through a wheel throwing class and have been making primarily in porcelain since then, exploring forms through hand
building methods, and various techniques for surface design. While I love to create functional beauty in many areas, my heart’s content is to explore different functional forms related to food – for use in kitchens and at the table.
building methods, and various techniques for surface design. While I love to create functional beauty in many areas, my heart’s content is to explore different functional forms related to food – for use in kitchens and at the table.
While my approach to clay is primarily as a canvas, I always strive to harmonize my surface designs with user-friendly and sometimes multi-functional forms. My work is largely slab built, with a strong focus on surface embellishments – vivid underglazes and textures imprinted on, added to, and carved into the
clay. I use negative space as an active design element to provide a kind of structure for the colour compositions to play in, and off of.
clay. I use negative space as an active design element to provide a kind of structure for the colour compositions to play in, and off of.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My intention for each piece is to inspire joy, and invite a visual and tactile exploration – to notice details, patterns, colours, and how all these work together to create an emotional impact and provoke a sense of play. My work remains driven by functionality, and the desire to connect through delight and the love
of colour.