Acclaimed ceramicist sculpting iconic porcelain vessels
Sophie Cook graduated from Camberwell School of Art in 1997 with just the original bottle shape in a range of matt turquoises. Since then, a full spectrum of colours and finishes have been developed as well as the emergence of the teardrop and pod shapes. Her work can now be found in some of the most beautiful residencies worldwide. It is featured in permanent museum collections including the Geffrye Museum and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and was included in the touring exhibition 'European Design Since 1985: Shaping the New Century'.
“Every piece is a challenge to make, as porcelain is such a fluid medium on the wheel. I throw four pieces a day, which are left to dry for two days and are then carved to refine the shape. Once sprayed they dry for a week. It is an incredibly delicate process." The pieces are then further fired to 1260’C. During the firing there are further risks due to the fragility of the porcelain and the heat of the kiln. On average, during the entire making process, only fifty per cent of the pieces will survive.
Sophie's studio is by the sea in Suffolk, where she lives with her partner and three young boys. The Suffolk landscape continues to be an inspiration for her work, most recently she has developed a new range of earth tone colours, ranging from umber to deepest navy.
“My bottles, pods and teardrops are about colour and form. An individual piece works well but displayed in groups they become a three dimensional still life.” As Olivier Dupon wrote in the New Artisans, “Her work is a collector’s dream. The more you own, the better they look.”
“For pared-down sophistication Sophie Cook’s pieces are without peer.”
— The Telegraph
Education
1994-1997 Ceramics at Camberwell School of Art
Awards
2006 ‘Best In Show’ at the Grand Design Awards
2002 ‘Adrian Sassoon’ Award at the Chelsea Craft Fair.
