It’s been four years since I last ‘crossed the pond’. Alan encouraged me to make the trip, but not for too long! I’m home again now but I crammed lots of special visits and family time into my ten days away in October. As I usually do, I made a point of finding pots, potters, studios and galleries and I’d like to post several blogs about my adventures.
On the day after my super-kind nephew Mike picked up me, my suitcase and the box of pots from Heathrow, he and great-niece Molly offered to accompany me on my first expedition. On an above-ground train to Canada Wharf and then tube, we found ourselves in Shoreditch. After checking out a favourite bike shop, we wandered over to Malory Tate’s studio at Sunbury Workshops.
When I last found Malory Tate in London she was working for ‘Ceramic Review’ magazine at the Contemporary Ceramics Gallery on Great Russel street. Since then she and a fellow potter have established Columbia Road Clay, and personal studios in Shoreditch. They teach wheel-throwing to beginners, and may well have convinced my Richmond-based family to take a group lesson one day!
Instagram: @columbiaroadclay
In her own studio Malory continues to create her elegant porcelain tulipieres and other decorative pieces. She did a collaboration with a New York based luxury tableware brand called Elizabeth Lake (https://elizabethlake.com/collections/malory-tate-x-elizabeth-lake) which is now sold out.
We saw flower bricks and other vases in process. Last year she was featured as an Artist to Watch in Ceramic Review, so Malory is on her way!
The workshops are being renovated (carefully, as they’re ‘listed’ so can’t be altered too much) so rents will increase. Malory and George have decided to move out of London soon, but she will commute for some days each week to continue teaching pottery here.
I’m delighted to see that the recent Art School graduate who spent a year as a Ceramics Artist-in-Residence at Port Moody Arts Centre (PoMoArts) a few years ago is now realizing her dream of a successful career in Ceramics.
Thank you for showing us your studio, Malory. It was very good to see you again and I wish you much success in your career, and a smooth transition to life outside of London. The new studio sounds as if it will be perfect!
Malory offered to walk with me to Old Street tube station. From there I travelled to King’s Cross so that I could take the train to Ely for my next adventure. I’m told that Mike and Molly rented e-bikes to ride back to Waterloo for their train back to Mortlake!
