Christine Burgess

Christine Burgess is a ceramic sculptor working primarily in heavily grogged stoneware clay known as crank. Its coarse, gritty texture allows her to build with an immediacy and it has become the foundation of her practice. The human form sits at the centre of the work, drawn to its endless variations, its emotional presence and the way gesture and structure can be suggested through clay.

During her BA(hons) Fine Art at Chichester University, Christine developed a series of tall head forms using plaster moulds. This period was pivotal, giving her the technical confidence to push scale and experiment with the relationship between inner volume and surface expression. These forms continue to evolve, each one becoming a study in character, tension and the traces left by hand and tool.

More recently Christine has been exploring rust chain and marine ironwork as complementary sculptural elements. Their weathered surfaces, associations with labour and the sea, and inherent strength offer a compelling contrast to clay. All pieces are fired to be fully frost-resistant, allowing them to inhabit outdoor spaces where shifting light, weather, and environment become part of the final artwork.