Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1962.
Lives and works in London, UK.
Elizabeth’s aspirations were defined by the contours of her parents’ expectations. Expressions of personal identity were boxed in. The conflict between confinement and liberation shaped her life. Her work draws upon this conflict to transform rigid properties into curvilinear possibilities creating fluid abstract sculptures. Her work evokes a balance between control and freedom. ‘Squares’ was shortlisted for ‘Fresh’ and exhibited in the British Ceramics Biennial, in 2019. Elizabeth is currently enrolled in the Ceramics & Glass master’s degree at the Royal College of Art in London.
“Release“, 2021. Duration: 0’59”
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from PUC – RJ. I followed a career in business and marketing working initially in finance and then in marketing of consumer goods, developing and launching new products for multinational companies.
When I turned 40, I moved with my family to New York and lived there for 10 years.
I started my experience with clay in Rio de Janeiro in 2000 and it quickly became a passion. From then on, I dedicated as much time as possible to ceramics, whilst always limited to short-term courses.
My determination to pursue my passion was made possible in London, where I moved to in 2013. Here, I was accepted to a two-year Ceramics Diploma program at City Lit, from which I graduated in July 2019.
For my graduation show I developed the series ‘Squares’, which speaks of the conflict between confinement and liberation that shaped my life.
My work draws upon this conflict by stretching the geometric limitations of the square. Hand-built porcelain sculptures transform the rigid properties of the square to bring out curvilinear possibilities that express movement and liberation. Through making, I distort, bend and twist the walls to create fluid, open-form abstract sculptures.
Porcelain’s transformative qualities under the effect of heat and time introduce an element of chance that contributes to their smooth biomorphic aesthetic. Their pure colour and form, delineated by a delicate outline, bring out hints of minimalism. The fine and translucent properties of the material convey an element of apparent fragility, yet once touched, the porcelain reveals itself to be hard and unyielding.
My work evokes a balance between control and freedom, between strength and fragility, between confinement and liberation.
‘Squares’ was shortlisted for Fresh and exhibited in the British Ceramics Biennial, UK, in 2019. I have also exhibited at New Designers and Menier Gallery in July 2019 and at Bevere Gallery, UK in January 2020.
Aiming to develop my practice, I pursued a master’s degree at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. In 2020, I was accepted to their Ceramics & Glass program where I am further developing my individual voice as an artist and my critical thinking in ceramics.
At the Royal College of Art, I have developed ‘Release’, in response to a project brief based on an 18th century rococo porcelain vase from the Victoria & Albert Museum. ‘Release’ is a contemporary interpretation of the rococo inspired by the qualities that define the style: an asymmetric ornamentation and the use of the curved “S” scroll form and the many lines of its signature motif, the acanthus leaf. This porcelain sculpture is a minimalist piece that contrasts with the elaborate ornamental rococo style, conveying a sense of personal identity. It’s movement and form express escape and freedom and makes room for me to be myself.
