Maxine Hugon

Pottery

“Today, we live with flat, glowing rectangles that connect us to anything and everything, from our work to our dearest friends. It is an amazing time, and we are fortunate for the virtual connection at our fingertips. But, we still need a mug for our morning coffee, a bowl to sit on the kitchen counter to cradle our fruit, and a vase for our flowers,” explains Maxine.

In her work, Maxine strives to impart contemplative beauty to real, solid objects that are used every day. Her pots are hand-thrown on a wheel, her designs are hand-carved into the still-damp clay, her slips and glazes are hand-applied to reveal strokes of her brush. Her aim is to deliver the experience of a visually and tangibly rich surface quality, at once fragile and substantial, and most importantly, created by the hands of a real person.

Maxine is influenced by many cultures and sources, including medieval architectural ornament, interlacing Celtic design, wallpaper patterns of the English Arts & Crafts Movement, 11th century Chinese carved vessels, and things she sees out her window. Her designs are inspired by nature, and her renderings of classic motifs like leaves, flowers and birds,\are stylized and almost cartoon-like, transforming timeless icons into designs that are whimsical and fresh.