Helene (Buni) Vonnegut

My work in clay is an invitation to pause, approach and touch. From maker to user, I hope to remind viewers to delight in the art around us — from nature’s beauty to utilitarian objects. I use stoneware or porcelain to create functional works for table and garden, enhancing each piece through shape, texture and glaze fluidity. Works are influenced by an international career that included several years in Japan where I was drawn to an aesthetic of simplicity and beauty...even in imperfections! Studying ceramics later, my designs and sculptures recalled Japan’s architectural heritage. Basket vases have high, arched handles, lanterns evoke iconic lighthouses and farmhouses. Repetitive surface textures allow the glaze to flow while the clay beneath teases with subtle texture. I enjoy exploring the collaboration of a coastal low country glaze palette with elements of Japanese tableware.