Paula Nylen
With a deep respect for history, tradition, and the masters of the craft, I create functional art mainly from porcelain, often looking to the past for my inspiration. To me, beauty lies in simplicity — less can be more. It allows one to focus on the silhouette, form, proportion, the function and the craftsmanship. Inspiration has always come from my surroundings, nature, travel, the urban landscape, and architecture. The work, while functional, communicates an idea that is not always obvious, light, shadows, shape, textures, and structure. Ceramics is one of the most ancient industries going back thousands of years. It bridges ages, geography, socio-economic factors, and opinion. While recognized universally, a handcrafted object resonates with people in a different, more personal way than mass produced ones. A ceramic piece expresses the time, thought, and skill of the artist. Clay enables me to engage in a conversation with the end user through their relationship and use of my pieces.