Paula Cooley

Paula Cooley is a full-time ceramics artist living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She has had an active studio practice since 1999, and works with wheel-throwing, hand-building, and various glazing and firing techniques, each yielding different effects. Paula’s artistic practice includes functional and sculptural work, both of which influence and inform each other. With a degree in ceramics from SIAST and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Saskatchewan, Paula’s work blends technique and craftsmanship with more experimental forms. Her ceramic work features in private and public collections across Saskatchewan, and has been shown in solo and group exhibitions throughout Canada.

PHOTOS: Grant Kernan, AK Photos, except “Lucent” by Ron Cooley Photography and artist photograph by Kevin Hogarth Photography

How would you describe what craft is?

Craft is skill, knowledge, creativity and innovation all coming together in an handmade piece that delights, functions and/or challenges. Each object tells a story, sometimes boldly, sometimes subtly, connecting the maker to the appreciator, from one’s hands to another’s.

What do you want your customers to know?

Curiosity fuels my ceramic practice. I work intuitively, reacting and modifying a piece numerous times until it is resolved. My background and formal training in craft leads me to a careful manipulation of materials and attention to detail. Typically, my sculptures are hand built and I use a variety of clay bodies, varying from earthenware to porcelain, according to the technical demands of the piece and possible surface treatments. I strive to create interesting surfaces and work with various firing techniques ranging from low fire raku to high fire atmospheric firings such as wood and salt.

What are you inspired by?

Inspired by nature, I have long been interested in making biomorphic, organic, and ambiguous ceramic sculptures that encourage dynamic, open-ended associations. I consciously work with dualities (beauty vs. the unnatural, attraction vs. menace, organic vs. industrial etc.) to intrigue the viewer and spark dialogue. My clay pieces suggest the vitality of plants, animals, water, wind, earth but are not literal representations. Instead, my sculptures look as if they are mutating organisms or evolving formations, the curious and unusual products of natural selection and possibly human intervention. I want to create objects that seem to grow or move, shaping and animating the space around them.