Texas artist Hillary Cumberworth hopes her modern ceramic vessels spark a conversation about how we are shaped by the people and moments in our lives.
The artist: Born in Austin, Cumberworth grew up in the Texas capital “back when Austin was a sleepy town full of hippies, families, politics and music.” As a busy high school athlete who played four sports, she managed to squeeze in a ceramics class, which changed her focus.
At Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, she played basketball and earned a BA in sculpture and a minor in art history.
After college, Cumberworth worked as an interior designer for home builders and later as a middle school teacher in Houston, while doing her art on the side.
In 2011, Cumberworth and her family moved overseas to Dubai for five years before returning with three small children to Austin.
The company/studio: Hillary Cumberworth Art is based in Austin. Her studio is in a built-out area of her garage.
The goods & materials: Currently, glazed ceramic sculptures that are hand built, using slabs or coil construction techniques. Each piece can stand alone or in a grouping.
What’s popular: Vessels in the Learned Journey collection in muted and monochromatic colors of black, tan and white ($175 for a seven-inch tall piece to $800 for a 23-inch tall piece).
The process:
- Cumberworth hand builds a cylinder.
- Once it is leather hard, she manipulates the clay, adding bend, curves and other impressions that represent a moment, or moments, in our lives.
Inspirations: Louise Bourgeois, the late French-American artist, who explored various domestic themes in her work, including the family, sexuality and the body.
Also, the current works of Deborah Roberts, Israel Kislansky, Ashraf Hanna and Whitney Bender.
Fun requests: Many this year, including commissions of vessels to celebrate anniversaries and newly found love.
Big break: Being represented by the Maestri Galley in Dallas.
What’s next: In September, the 1000 Vases exhibition in Milan. Cumberworth will have three pieces in the exhibit, which features unique works by independent designers from more than 30 countries.
Where to buy: hillarycumberworth.com and maestrigallery.com
Get social at:
- Instagram: hillarycumberworthart
