Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 33
Occupation: Artist.
Instagram: @maura_wright
Hometown: Columbia, MO.
Studio location: Kansas City, MO.
Describe what you make: I make ceramic vessels that are often paired with sculptural objects and painted installations of the domestic interior. My work is a celebration of decoration.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: Faux marble ceramic doorstops. They’re all enlarged feet wearing contemporary footwear, mostly sandals. The surfaces are hand-painted to reference classical marble sculpture. I love how absurd these objects are in the home, and love even more that they’re made with a purpose in mind.
Describe the problem your work solves: I make work that reimagines old-world ceramic design and the decadence of the decorative arts. It’s a show of contemporary opulence; a pairing of old and new.
Describe the project you are working on now: I recently began making ceramic baskets. Clay as a material is both heavy and fragile. The basket form heightens the fragility as the solidness that often gives clay its strength is removed and the heaviness is subverted. I’m drawn to the visual layers achieved by stacking the braided clay to construct the form.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I just opened an exhibition, “A Taste of Something Special,” with AGO Projects at the Zak+Fox showroom in New York City. This exhibition shows the power of collaboration and is a huge reason why I appreciate working with AGO. I’m honored to have my works displayed in Zak+Fox’s stunning showroom. The works are on view through Sept 30.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: Sparkling water and natural light. Ceramic studios are commonly in dark or dingy environments. Windows and light play such an important role in my making process. I want to create work in an environment that shares the same qualities of the spaces we live in.
What you do when you’re not working: House projects. My partner and I recently moved into a 1930s Tudor-style home with a lot of deferred maintenance. I’m really excited about the aesthetic upgrades we get to make to customize the space, but I’m looking forward to the day where it doesn’t feel like every issue needs immediate attention.
Sources of creative envy: Spaces that show a lifetime of love. I’m in awe of La Maison Picassiette, the mosaic house in France. Obsessive, abundant decoration is a huge driving force in my work. At times, I wish I could spend years dedicated to a single project that fully transforms a space.
The distraction you want to eliminate: As I grow my business and studio operation, I look forward to handing off some of the administrative tasks that come with being an artist. My goal is to maximize my time making and designing the works.
Concrete or marble? Marble.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or forget? Remember.
Aliens or ghosts? Ghosts.
Dark or light? Light.
