Please introduce yourself. What inspired you to become an artist?

I’m an artist based in London, my practise is centred in combining painting and sculpture in clay. I explore scenes of poetic tenderness and humour, interweaving metaphors for embracing life’s diversity of peoples and their cultures. I have been making art from a very early age, trying all sorts of materials and methods. I have been greatly inspired by my mother who is an ‘en plein air’ painter. My work has taken me around the world to some fascinating places, including India, Pakistan and China, where I have met many other artists and craftspeople and learnt about traditional methods of using clay.

Your medium is primarily clay. How does clay reflect the narrative of your work?

I find the possibilities of clay feel infinite and at the same time challenging, the material keeps me captivated. I have devised a method of painting with slips like watercolour onto the clay. I am interested in the three-dimensional aspect to painting on a sculpture, and with clay there is additional texture and colour.

The form of the piece often informs the painting because all the angles of the piece have to be considered. The multi surfaces extend the narrative and offer more perspective. My ceramics are often glazed, and this glaze adds to the appearance and depth of the surface. I find that when working with glaze on a sculpture there is a quality to the surface that entices a viewer to touch and interact with the work.

Describe your process for creating your ’Self Portrait, 2019’ piece. What sparked the initial concept? What can the viewer learn about you whilst looking at this piece?

Self-portrait is about our interior and exterior worlds. It is a scene portrayed from different viewpoints, inside and outside as well as in the reflection of a mirror. The viewer looks in while the protagonist looks out. The initial idea was just a passing thought; I wondered what some builders outside my window might see of me in the morning through the gap in the curtains. Then I worked in relief around a clay box form to set the idea in context. This piece makes me smile, as I enjoy the humour in these everyday moments.

You recently had a solo exhibition at London’s Barbican Centre. What inspired you to create this body of work? How did you re-imagine the Barbican?

I was given this opportunity and I wanted to make work that would complement the fantastic architecture of the building and all it encompasses. I imagined the Barbican as being an ‘oasis’ in the city. I created sculptures that are based on real observation and anecdotes from the Barbican’s history, that reflect the magical and diverse life within its infamous walls. The Barbican has housed an eclectic community of creatures over the years; birds of prey nesting in the towers, reptiles abandoned in the conservatory and rich, bustling underwater worlds and I find all these fascinating and inspiring.

What do you look for in a potential subject to capture? Where do you feel most inspired?

I just let various things jump out at me and I make notes or take photos on my phone. I record ideas and themes from old master paintings, colour combinations and things that I find comical. Ideas arrive anytime but I find it easier to view things with fresh eyes when I’m visiting new places.

What are you currently working on in your studio?

I am working on a commission incorporating seventy-five painted tiles which will cover two sides of a London porch. I made the design in watercolour first, then hand rolled the tiles in terracotta clay and now I am painting the images onto the fired clay with slips and glazes. The final product will be two Victorian garden themed scenes.

If you could ask a question to any artist; dead or alive, who would it be, and why?

Picasso, do you mind if I copy you?!

What has been your greatest achievement so far as an artist? What are your future aspirations?

I feel my greatest achievement has been putting on my solo show. It felt like a milestone for me. Having done it, I am excited to do it again. Producing a body of work, curating the show and interacting with the public during the show is wonderful. All together it was a really satisfying experience and one I’m proud of.

Why do you think art is important in society?

Art uses visual language to communicate, and I believe communication is how we develop and progress as a society. In making art I am able to express my ideas and thoughts which I enjoy and I hope connects with other people. Also, Art can be beautiful and something uplifting to society in general.

Henrietta MacPhee

ARTIST INTERVIEW: Henrietta MacPhee