Pottery by Lucy Willemsen

Artist Statement

 

 

Living and working in the forest and lakes of Val-des-Monts, Quebec, I am continually shaped by the landscape around me. Birch bark, weathered wood, shifting light on water, and the quiet presence of wildlife inform both the surfaces and forms of my ceramics. I am especially drawn to birch — its resilience, its scars, its ability to peel and renew — and I recreate those textures in clay through carving and layered surface work.

 

My practice bridges hand-building and wheel-throwing, allowing functional vessels to carry sculptural presence. I want my pieces to feel grounded and tactile, as though they have emerged from the forest floor rather than the kiln.

 

After the loss of my husband, my work deepened in meaning. Clay became a way to steady myself — to honour memory while continuing forward. In embracing imperfection and natural texture, I explore endurance, healing, and the quiet strength found in the land.

 

I am a lifelong maker who has spent over four decades exploring wood, leather, textiles, sculpture, and paint. In 2018, I took a beginner’s clay class with the simple intention of recreating birch bark in ceramic — and I never looked back.