Carmel Pollock | Contemporary Ceramic Artist and Spatial Designer

Carmel Pollock is a New Zealand-based artist whose creative practice is deeply rooted in the exploration of material processes and spatial form. Holding a Bachelor of Spatial Design and a Post Graduate Certificate in Ceramics from the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic, Pollock brings a sophisticated understanding of structure to her work. Her artistic journey is influenced by both her academic training and a personal history of making; she often references the fiberglass boat-building techniques used by her father as a foundational inspiration for her own method of constructing vessels from molded stoneware slabs. A central element of Carmel Pollock’s current work is the application of Nerikomi, a traditional Japanese technique involving the meticulous layering and blending of different colored clays to create intricate patterns within the clay body itself. This process allows her to investigate the delicate balance between rigid control and natural spontaneity, resulting in objects that possess a distinct energy signature. Her accomplishments in the field have been recognized within the New Zealand arts community, including being a finalist for the World of Wearable Art and receiving accolades at the New Zealand Ceramic Awards. Based in New Zealand, Carmel Pollock continues to push the boundaries of contemporary ceramics, creating evocative pieces that serve as a bridge between the physical and the transcendental. Her work invites viewers to consider the relationship between the maker, the material, and the final form.