Anne Marie Laureys: Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture and Hand-Thrown Vessels

Anne Marie Laureys is a Belgian contemporary artist whose practice focuses on the expressive potential of ceramic sculpture. Based in Russeignies, she has developed a distinctive visual language that centers on the physical manipulation of hand-thrown clay. Her process begins on the potter's wheel, where she throws a traditional vessel, only to deconstruct and reshape it while the material remains wet and pliable. This spontaneous yet meticulous pulling, folding, and pinching results in complex, organic structures often referred to as "Clouds." Her work is a deep exploration of the concept of the container, seeking to dismantle the barriers between interior and exterior space. By focusing on the tension and plasticity of stoneware and porcelain, Laureys creates pieces that serve as visceral metaphors for human emotion and movement. Her sculptures carry the memory of the hand, capturing a state of constant transformation. Anne Marie Laureys has earned international acclaim, with her work exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Icheon Biennale in South Korea and the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Her pieces are included in significant public and private collections, including the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through her dedication to the medium, she continues to push the limits of ceramic craft, transforming the vessel into a medium for spatial and emotional discovery.