Kayley Holderness FSDC

Ceramics

About Kayley
Seeking beauty and balance, Kayley works with clay slowly and sensitively, exploring its inclination to bend and stretch. The resulting forms are simple yet striking, the sinuous contours change when viewed from different angles and are satisfying to touch.
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Biography Back to top

Kayley still remembers her first experience of playing with clay in the early years of secondary school. Ever since, she has used it in projects as often as possible and is always amazed by the boundless possibilities it presents. She feels excessively lucky to have attended a school with ceramics facilities, and has always felt supported by wonderful and encouraging teachers.

Inspired by the beautiful tonal paintings of Calla Lillies by Tamara de Lempicka and the dramatic curves in the architectural work of Santiago Calatrava, Kayley aspires to create work that is sensual and tactile, whilst exploring curves, balance and symmetry. The method of making heavily informs the direction of the work and, at the moment, Kayley most enjoys creating sculptural vessels by layering and blending coils of clay.

Resumé Back to top

Kayley has been involved with the Society since 2009 and is currently a Trustee. Kayley is working with the Society's Council and Volunteer Teams to build the profile of the Society and promote high standards of British craftsmanship.

Now in her eighth year of running the successful and independent 'Islington Pottery Workshops' at Islington Arts Factory, Kayley spends many hours in the week teaching, with a regular programme of group workshops and private tuition sessions.

Receiving her formal education between 2005 and 2009, Kayley trained as a Ceramic Designer at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London. Kayley received Highly Commended status and was a Finalist for two design competitions whilst at university, but most notably was awarded the Silvie Nisbet Scholarship, which she put towards a month-long trip to America, spending time in two ceramics studios in New York and Philadelphia. Kayley worked at various times as a studio assistant to seven established ceramicists.

Always up for a challenge, Kayley likes to put herself beyond her comfort zone. In 2012, she pitched her work against other craftspeople on the BBC2 show: 'Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution'. The work was judged by a panel of creative industry experts and her piece was selected as a winner. As a result of this adventure, Kayley's work was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for a month in October 2012.

Exhibitions

  • Spring Exhibition, Magpie Contemporary Art - Farnham, Surrey - March 2022
  • Surrey Hills Christmas Fair - West Horsley Place, Surrey - November 2021
  • Contemporary Ceramics - General Office Gallery, Stourbridge - November 2021
  • Designer Craft Showcase SDC - RBSA, Birmingham - November 2021
  • Ceramics Showcase - Islington Arts Factory, London - October 2021
  • Bright Horizons - The Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester - August 2021
  • Excellence SDC - The Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester - August 2021
  • Women's Lockdown Art - Women + Health / Zabludowicz Collection, London - November 2020
  • Into The Light SDC - The Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester - August 2020
  • Ceramics Showcase - Islington Arts Factory, London - 2019
  • Designer Crafts SDC - The Mall Galleries, London - 2015
  • MOSTYN in Llandudno - 2015
  • Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution Finalists (BBC2) - V&A - 2012
  • Designer Crafts SDC - The Mall Galleries, London - 2009
  • New Designers - Business Design Centre, London - 2009
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