Good ceramic is defined by its form, great ceramic by its soul. Lise Herud Braten has the pleasure of embodying both. Her collection of sculptural vessels are the union of intuitive creativity, material mastery and discerning taste. Featured in both galleries and private collections across the world, Lise is a rare breed of ceramicist who merges our twinned interests in fashion and objects – we are excited to feature her one-of-a-kind works in Wild Life.
Based in London, Lise’s studio practice is informed by her prior career as a bespoke couturier. A natural maker, part of her pivot was to free her hand, opting for the organic creativity of clay over the rigid precision of tailoring. Her aesthetic undulates between sophisticated minimalism and rugged earthiness, informed by her upbringing in Norway.
Made primarily from stoneware and porcelain, Lise’s pieces combine many different ceramic specialties. The vessels may be angular, geometric, organic, soft – whatever tactile inspiration guides her hand at the time of their inception. Some capture the patina of antique metal, while others seem to be carved from bolts of white marble or chalk.
Much like Lise herself, her collection straddles international borders. Within each piece, find elements of Spanish terracotta, Japanese hagi-yaki, and Moroccan tamegroute mixed with elements of Nordic primitivism. Several of her works call upon East Asian sculpting traditions (our favorites being those inspired by iconic Korean moon jars.)
Lise typically starts her work on the potter’s wheel, before palming the piece to manipulate and shape its final form by hand. This mode often takes her away from the ordinary, allowing for moments of spontaneity as she feels across the surface of the vessel. Rooted in ancestral pottery traditions, her works capture the primal moments of their own creation – a rare and precious humility not often found in ceramics of this caliber.
“I find constant inspiration in craggy rocks, lichen, moss…layered tree bark…urban decay. My primary interests are texture and natural, undulating forms…”
– Lise Herud Braten on her textural muses.
