Ingibjörg Ósk

Ceramicist

At home with Nordic nature

Ingibjörg was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years
Her ceramic kitchenware is ‘dressed’ in wood
Her work is intended to enhance the home

Inspired by nature, Ingibjörg Ósk creates ceramic homeware imbued with a strong sense of light and shade, reminiscent of the changing daylight of her Nordic home. Her products reflect her connection with the land and are designed with long winter evenings in mind; warm soup bowls, candle holders and pots for tea or coffee. Though she was a school teacher for many years, Ingibjörg was also an avid knitter and carpenter, so when she discovered clay she brought this experience with her. As a result, her ceramic pieces integrate wood and textiles both as decoration and for practicality, such as wooden beads to decorate and insulate a coffee pot.

Interview

What drew you to clay?: When I first handled clay I was astonished to think that so soft a material could end up so hard and fragile. I chose this craft and career because the process from start to finish fascinated me. There is both a simplicity and complicity to transforming clay into a product.
How do you approach tradition and innovation?: I express tradition by trying to make new forms for everyday objects. In my coffee pot I have used the shape of an old thread holder. I've also incorporated the old Icelandic way of making coffee into the design in relation to how the piece functions. I feel how I combine materials is my innovation.
How do you combine materials?: When I use wood and clay together it is important for me to combine them in harmony. Although the materials are very different, they speak to each other. First I make the clay object and then I have to design and make the wood in harmony with it. It is what I call 'dressing' the object.
What inspires your designs?: Mother nature is my muse and I am influenced by her simple forms and colours, light and shadow. Food is one of the ways nature enters the home, and food preparation and serving inspire the way I work. Making products for the kitchen is my focus, products that bring joy into someone’s life.

Ingibjörg Ósk is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2012