We visited architectural designer and ceramicist Jayne Kersten at her studio in Hackney Downs. Choosing to make her pieces using a ‘coiling’ method, where each piece is made by slowly and carefully building up layers of clay by hand, Kersten’s ceramics are incredibly unique and her work shows a true connection between material and maker.

How did you begin your journey into the world of pottery?

I started with a night course about three or so years ago in 2019, which was both hand-building and throwing and I really enjoyed as I hadn’t done any ceramics before. I wanted to do more but then covid happened so classes were cancelled and I got put on furlough so I started hand-building pieces at home on the coffee table. The problem was I then needed to fire my pieces, so I found the studio in Hackney Down where I am now and they let me come in to use the kiln. I basically did that for a few years, making at home but then the opportunity came along to take a spot in the studio and I took it!

Tell us a little bit about this studio we’re in?

There’s twelve of us that share the space here currently and the studio started about seven years ago. There’s a mixture of full time and part time potters which is great as everyone comes and goes at different times, on weekdays and weekends and there’s a real mix of skills and styles which is amazing. There’s people working on handbuilding, coiling, throwing which is great as there’s a real shared knowledge and for me as someone who had been mainly self taught, I was very lucky as I’ve learnt a lot of what I know from everyone else here.

What is it about hand-building that you prefer to throwing?

When I did the night course, I really enjoyed throwing. Something about the immediacy of making a form, and it was a skill which you can’t do at home so actually the night course I first did was all about that. But then when I was forced to carry on making from home the only option was hand-building and actually in the night courses there was a certain time pressure so hand-building didn’t seem as much of a viable option. Hand-building is more about building up slowly over time so it felt like working from home I had the time to create and experiment to create a finished piece. As you hand-build you have more freedom to change and build and re-assess as you go which creates unexpected outcomes which I really enjoy.

Who’s work inspires you most?

I think Lucy Rie. When I started one of my colleagues gave me one of her books second hand for secret santa and I was really taken by her work. It is very considered and delicate and she has an amazing understanding of form and balance and a very refined aesthetic. Equally, I really love walking about museums and looking at pre-historic ceramics which always blow my mind. I’m always surprised by the date on pieces and am drawn to the fact that they were built for a function but are still so beautiful, and they’ve lasted a lifetime!