The Hidden Collection

Material is at the centre of Kayleigh’s practice; she looks to take back the power of the material as a woman. Through making with clay there is a connection to the earth and life. The vessel is synonymous with the body and ceramics, through the exploration of abstracted non-functional ceramic forms Kayleigh connects her personal experience of functional issues with her body. Focusing on breaking taboo subjects surrounding hidden illnesses of the uterus through the paradigm of craft, with reflective biographical making. Through this act of quiet activism there is hope of encouraging visibility and the fight for better research within the medical industry. Contrasting defective glazes and imperfections on the surface of ceramic vessels to bring to the surface what is often hidden, through this act of showing them in full display and finding the beauty in the difficult. When you start to look at the body closely microscopically there are all shades of colour, contrasted colours communicate the conflicting battles that the body with hidden illnesses and battles endure. Kayleigh had developed her own unique palette of deflective glazes to explore the contrasts of colour and texture over thrown forms, looking for individuality in each form. The Hidden Collection is a limited edition collection made up of 100 small vessels that seeks to encourage conversation and engagement around the taboo subject of hidden illnesses. Each vessel is unique in their shape and glaze but are connected through similarities.