In vibrant effusions of coloration, Frances Priest creates ceramic vessels, tiles, and sculptural types that discover the probabilities of sample. The Edinburgh-based artist’s curiosity in ornamental motifs stems from a guide she obtained as a toddler, The Grammar of Decoration by Owen Jones, initially revealed in 1856.
Jones compiled elaborate documentation of ornamental motifs round Europe, the Center East, and different areas represented in British museum collections of the time. A world focus has lengthy impressed Priest, who incorporates a variety of visible languages into her items.
Priest (beforehand) emphasizes geometry and coloration, merging concepts of precision with natural motion—a few of the parts seem like floating away or overlapping playfully with others moderately than remaining in excellent alignment. She additionally continues the patterns throughout the bottoms of the items, emphasizing an all-around completeness.
Current works embrace a collection of cylindrical vessels with lids influenced by Chinese language ginger jars. The artist lately accomplished a large-scale tile fee for Theatre Clwyd in North Wales titled “Stellar,” and a collection of encaustic floral tiles dotted the ground of a backyard at London’s 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Present.
In the event you’re in Edinburgh, see Priest’s work at &Gallery within the forthcoming group exhibition Fragments, which runs from July 5 to 30. Discover extra on the artist’s Instagram and web site, the place a few of the items proven right here can be found for buy in her store.
