Blurring the Lines Between Function and Style
Pine needles, barbed wire and reeds are just some of the materials Jamila Monahan incorporates into intriguing vessels and sculptures.
In Jamila Monahan’s hands, traditional ceramics and contemporary basketry meet in vessels that feel quietly alive. They’re inspired by a life lived across contrasting landscapes, from her childhood in England’s Cotswolds to summers along Georgian Bay and now, her home in Glen Huron, with the Niagara Escarpment as companion.
“Using ethically sourced and foraged materials, my work blurs the boundary between functional object and fine art, inviting a slower, more attentive relationship with the natural world,” she says.
In many pieces, Monahan adds foraged and local clays – a mineral signature of home. In her recent creations, structure and softness coexist as an exploration of nature’s ability to adapt and endure, she says. “Through this work, I seek to make visible the quiet persistence of the land and the urgent need to protect what remains.” jamilamonahan.com
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