Jess Skelton: Trajectory

Jess Skelton, winner of the 2024 Rising Stars Award, presents Trajectory, an exhibition that reflects the progression of her work over the past year. Her intuitive approach pushes materials to their limits, exploring the contrasts between the delicate and the robust. In this new collection, she focuses on the interplay between porcelain and black clay-two seemingly opposing materials. Loosely thrown, flowing forms meet rugged, textured bases, enhanced by bold colour inclusions and expressive mark-making. Rather than masking imperfections, Jess highlights the remnants of process, treating them as integral elements of her work.

Her practice draws inspiration from urban environments, graffiti, and the remnants of discarded plastic objects. She captures the raw beauty of urban decay, translating its layered complexity into her ceramics. Through her work, she reflects on the precarious existence of marginalised communities and the resilience they embody. By blending these influences with a unique material sensibility, Jess creates pieces that challenge conventional ideas of perfection and permanence.

Since receiving the Rising Stars Award, Jess has further refined her approach, exploring the tension between fragility and strength. Her work invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of materiality and imperfection, offering a bold and thought-provoking perspective on contemporary ceramics. Trajectory showcases her continued evolution, celebrating the unexpected beauty found in process, contrast, and transformation.