Thuridur Osk Smaradottir

Ceramicist

©Thuridur Smaradottir

©Björg Pálsdóttir

The theatre of everyday

Thuridur has worked with clay all her life
She uses natural colours and simple forms
Having her work in people’s home is a joy

Thuridur Osk Smaradottir began her ceramic journey in Denmark at the young age of five years old. When she relocated to Iceland, she attended the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts alongside regular school. At the age of 20, she received a scholarship to study in the United States at Gonzaga University. Using the skills she has gathered, she walks the thin line between having control on the wheel and losing it, pushing the limits of the clay. She creates humble functional ceramic ware that embodies the energy of the volatile Icelandic weather. For her, the weather holds emotion, she expresses this through her use of colour and form, making pieces which understand the theatre of everyday experiences.

Interview

©Thuridur Smaradottir

©Björg Pálsdóttir

What was the first object you made?: In kindergarten, for Easter, all of us kids had to make a coil-built jar in the shape of a bird with its beak wide open. I was mesmerised by the process, and seeing the piece come out of the kiln with a bright glossy yellow glaze was thrilling.
What is special about the material you work with?: Clay grounds me and connects me to the earth. When I am on the potter’s wheel working, there is nothing else. Its transformation from unfired to fired, draws me in. After firing, the clay can never return to its original form. It is final, and demands my focus.
What does well made mean to you?: It means that the maker has a good understanding and knowledge of the material they work with; they have a strong technical skill. They understand when to use certain materials for specific purposes. But then, break the rules, leaving us all in awe.
What is a memorable moment in your professional life?: One memory is early after graduating, when I was working really hard to support myself as a potter far away from home, I realised that it is possible for to make a living doing what I absolutely love. I still feel that sense of delight and luck today.

Thuridur Osk Smaradottir is a master artisan: she began her career in 2005 and she started teaching in 2014