Ed #13 (2023), porcelain and mason stain, 7 x 6 x 8 inches. Photos edited by Nash Quinn. All images courtesy of Joan Clare Brown, shared with permissionJoan Clare Brown Juxtaposes Anatomy and Memories in Poignant Porcelain SculpturesFebruary 11, 2025ArtCraftKate MothesDepending on how you look at them, the tendrils seemingly growing from Joan Clare Browns porcelain bases could be perceived as soft and delicate or spiny, defensive, and slightly unsettling. Dualities lie at the heart of the artists approach to ceramics, especially in her ongoing series Ed, which takes personal experience and human anatomy as starting points for a poignant study of grief.I started this series as a response tomy fathers sudden passing, Brown tells Colossal. He was diagnosed with widespread pancreatic cancer and passed away the same day, ultimately of sepsisfrom complications of a perforated bowel. In the Ed works, the cinched base, which mimics a frilly-edged textile cushion or pouch, represents a perforated organ, and the long, growing blades or tendrils emblematize infection.Ed #5 (2023), porcelain and mason stain, 6 x 4 x 5 inchesThe inherent hardness and brittleness of porcelain juxtapose with the softness of textile-like surfaces and organic, plant-like fronds. Each color reflects specific childhood memories of Browns father, like the blue and green hues drawn from his favorite flannel shirt or light pinks and purples redolent of a tablecloth used at her family dinners.Through the permanence of the ceramic form, my hope was to turn something menacing and insidious into a nostalgic and meaningful reminder, Brown says. And by making these pieces, in a way, I feel that he is still present. Explore more on the artists website and Instagram.Ed #16 (2023), porcelain, mason stain, glaze, and luster, 7 x 6 x 4 inchesDetail of Ed #13Ed #10 (2023), porcelain and mason stain, 7 x 5 x 5 inchesEd #11 (2023), porcelain and mason stain, 7 x 8 x 7 inchesEd #12 (2023), porcelain and mason stain, 7 x 5 x 4 inchesDetail of Ed #11Ed #4 (2022), porcelain and mason stain, 7 x 4 x 4 inchesEd #3 (2022), porcelain, mason stain, glaze, and luster, 8 x 6 x 4 inchesNext article