Ali Sobel-Read is an American-Australian ceramic artist shaped by global sites and nuances. Her latest work, photo silk-screen prints on clay, reflects the landscape of her adopted home in Newcastle, Australia.
Ceramics has been an integral part of my life for over fifteen years. While my tools and methods of expression have changed over time, my passion for the artform has remained constant.
I am a placemaker and use images and texture, to create connections with with the surrounding environment. My pieces link people together with place, memories, experience and joy. I am continually inspired by the environment around me. My desire to translate this inspiration into my artwork led me to the discovery of silk-screen printed photography. Photographing the world in my travels both locally and abroad has allowed me to integrate my perspective on the exterior world with the creations I make in my studio. Incorporating the two has enabled me to create work that inspires and invites conversation.
My work, consistently geometric and contemporary in nature, spans the spectrum from jewellery to installed architectural tiles. I welcome commissions and view them as a means to collaborate and share ideas — a way to help others to translate their dreams into viable and functional objects of use.
I use a range of clays – from low-fired earthenware to mid-range stoneware – to suit my various projects. And I utilize a variety of washes, underglazes and glazes to further enhance my relief and screen printed work – no matter if it’s on an elegant vase or a whimsical tile.
This is art that creates conversation.
