Below the surface

Jamila Monahan

This collection explores material memory, environmental erosion, and the things we carry through life—both visible and invisible. Fracture Lines grew from a deep connection to the landscapes that have shaped me, and from a growing awareness of how much we hold within ourselves: memory, grief, love, loss, resilience, and hope.

Each hand-carved vessel was created through Kurinuki, a traditional Japanese technique of hollowing solid blocks of clay. Each form slowly excavated into being, echoing geological shifts and the landscapes that have shaped my sense of place.

The surfaces are layered with Terra Sigillatas made from foraged clays, allowing the land itself to become part of the work. Minerals, metals and invasive plants introduced during a 24-hour smoke firing then leave unpredictable marks, embracing chance, transformation, and the alchemy of fire.

These vessels hold more than form. They hold traces of place, process, and our enduring connection to the earth. Their fractures remind us that what breaks us, also shapes us—and that there can be beauty, strength, and tenderness in what we carry forward.

Size: 11.5"H x 6.25"W x 6"D