Sonje hibbert

ceramic artist

Since 2006 Sonje has been developing a new avenue for her sculptural work. Working from large scale paintings made in situ in Hampi- India and later the W. Cornwall and Devon rocky coastlines the focus has been on allowing the language of the clay material to be expressed. The seeds of this work has taken several years to germinate and in 2009 a new body of work began to be produced. This exciting new direction gives less importance to creating and designing a stylised form and more on what the actual clay material can achieve through manipulation. Called 'Hollow' this work will be available for exhibition from mid 2010.

Sonje has an MA in Ceramics from UWIC and gained a PGCE (FE) in 2007. She has wide ranging educational experience which includes running clay and plaster workshops in primary schools, participating as Artist in Resident at Kingswood School Bath and working on the Degree in Contemporary Crafts at Falmouth College or Arts. She is currently leader of the very successful ceramic workshop for the Saturday Arts Academy at Kingsbridge Community College, South Devon and works as a pottery tutor for Adult Education for Devon County Council. Along side the ceramic work runs a very strong interest in photography, drawing and painting and she teaches life drawing skills at Kingsbridge Community College as well. In 2009 she relocated her studio to Totnes where wide ranging techniques are being taught on the six week pottery courses that she is running. Any enquiries to participate on these should be made to the artist herself through the contact details given.

Sonje Hibbert is an artist whose genre has been influenced by extensive living and travelling abroad. Working with all issues and concerns of the contemporary world, the current aspect of her figurative work fuses a fascination of Eastern and African Cultures with more traditional W. European styles. The sensual and at times slightly erotically charged sculptures, whilst being tactile and often humerous, on a more serious note attempt to portray the cliches that surround the Western perceptions of the female form. An ongoing fascination for Victoriana is also mirrored in the large decorative ceramic jugs that Sonje makes which present a merging of styles influenced by textiles, textured surface and a culturally loaded childhood in Hongkong. 

Sonje has been using the clay medium to develop these sculptures since 1996 and tends to utilise plaster moulds with press moulding and slab building used to resolve the final pieces. The variety of finishes executed include porcelain slips, oxides, decals and smokefiring. All work is exhibited and sold nationally in galleries and ceramic fairs throughout the UK. Whilst continuing to work with the lighter nature of the figurative aspect, the portrayal of the often unspoken concerns relating to the human condition still develops.  The recent context dealing with the aftermath of modern day conflicts and genocide called 'Portraying the Silence' can be seen under ceramic books on this website.