Judith Ernst Abstract Sculptures

Originally from the Northwest with a B.A. from Stanford University, I have painted, published illuminated books, and lived and traveled extensively in Asia. Now working primarily in ...

Originally from the Northwest with a B.A. from Stanford University, I have painted, published illuminated books, and lived and traveled extensively in Asia. Now working primarily in ceramics, I draw images from the deep well of past experience, always starting from a strong “mind’s eye” vision. My ceramic pieces are as much about their inside as they are about their sculpted outside. Implied are the dichotomies between the inner and outer, between that which is hidden and that which is seen, between the esoteric and the exoteric, between the soul and the body. I continue to create “Metaphysical Pots” that feature water both inside and outside, becoming metaphorically both the Water of Life and the Infinite Ocean, symbolizing the continuous process between creation and transcendence. Other pieces include shapes that repeat in a pattern that follows the form of the vessel. It is a “bio-geometry” that leads the eye back to the inside of the vessel, a “Jacob’s Ladder” that leads not just up but in. Using sculptural techniques, I cut through the wall of the pot to get more depth and dynamic movement. I continue to push the limits of my medium, taking apart thrown vessels and reconfiguring them in new ways. Autumnal Equinox 02, Stoneware Ceramic Sculpture with Repeating Pattern...