Vivien O’Malley

Ceramicist

©Karen Dempsey Photography

©Julia Dunin Photography

©Karen Dempsey Photography

©Julia Dunin Photography

Throwing clay to the boundaries

Vivien feels most fulfilled when creating
Her pieces are tactile and invite touch
For her, clay is a lifestyle not just a career

Vivien first fell in love with ceramics after a visit to a pottery studio in County Waterford where she was allowed to try her hand at throwing clay. Having chosen her craft, she spent four years training at the Limerick School of Art and Design, following which she undertook the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s Ceramics Skills course. Before setting up her own ceramic business she apprenticed in several potteries in Ireland and Australia, mastering her craft and learning the ins-and-outs of running a business. Her work captures the energy of the wheel, which echoes the energy of the Irish sea. She uses the ebb and flow of the clay to create delicate pieces which speak to Ireland’s rich seascapes.

Interview

©Julia Dunin Photography

©Julia Dunin Photography

Can you explain a little about how your pieces are created?: I like to use the wheel as a sketch pad where I will try different shapes until the right one emerges. For this I need the ability to create in my mind and replicate on the wheel. Then textures are introduced, each time they are different, responding to the form in front of me.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: Tradition comes in the form of the techniques that I use, including the wheel. Knowledge that has been passed down through generations. I seek innovation with my surface decoration and glazing, from new recipes to unusual applications.
What do you love most about your profession?: I love the calmness and grounding that it brings into my life. The wheel especially gives me peace on a stressful day. There is a piece of me in all my work, it is an extension of me. Each piece reflects my mood from the playful to the stillness.
Can you tell us a memorable moment in your professional life?: Realising that the joy and love for pottery is not based on monetary value or notability, but simply the love of what I do. Now I have the opportunity to share this joy with others – which is one of the reasons I have opened my studio for education and training.

Vivien O’Malley is a rising star: she began her career in 2016 and she started teaching in 2016