Signe Hanson

I hand build strong forms in high-fire stoneware, using coils and slabs. Having spent much of my life in Asia and Africa, I appreciate contemporary and classical painting, sculpture, and ceramics from these regions. I feel my artwork is influenced by Southeast Asian and West African aesthetics.

I am inspired by traditional functional vessels, such as storage vessels, water jars, and African beer pots. I am drawn to their simplicity, their roundness, and their gentle curves. It is the beautiful form of these vessels that I try to echo. While my pieces may repeat traditional forms and incorporate traditional techniques, they are not designed to be faithful replicas. Many of pieces are finished inside so they can be used functionally, but their main purpose is to serve as objects of appreciation.