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The Art of Function: Nicola Tassie's Ceramic Legacy
From Canvas to Clay: A Twenty-Year Collaboration Bridging Art and Utility
Will Forrester
November 22, 2024
In the heart of London's Hoxton district, ceramic artist Nicola Tassie has been quietly revolutionizing functional pottery for over four decades. Her collaboration with Margaret Howell, spanning more than 20 years, represents a perfect marriage of form and function, where craft meets contemporary design.
“A continually changing selection of exclusive Nicola Tassie works is available in all Margaret Howell shops.”
"I think there's a great synergy with Margaret Howell's design ideas; an understanding and respect of material that lend to decisions over form and surface. It’s about creating things that last, and having a personal relationship with something because of the attention the maker and the designer have given over to it"
Tassie's journey to ceramics began unexpectedly. Originally trained as a painter, a chance encounter with a potter's wheel at London's Central School of Art transformed her artistic trajectory. This serendipitous moment led her to transfer her keen eye for form and color from canvas to clay, establishing her studio in Hoxton during the 1980s - a space where she continues to create her distinctive works today.
“Originally studying to be a painter, Tassie transferred her eye for form and colour to ceramics after a serendipitous encounter with the potter’s wheel at the Central School of Art, London.”
The artist's relationship with Margaret Howell began with a jug. During a studio visit two decades ago, Howell was captivated by Tassie's interpretation of this humble domestic form. Since then, their collaboration has expanded to encompass a broad range of pieces, from practical domestic ware to innovative lighting solutions, each piece bearing Tassie's distinctive touch.
What sets Tassie's work apart is her dual mastery of both functional and sculptural ceramics. Her practice seamlessly bridges the gap between utility and art, from wheel-thrown vessels that grace everyday life to sculptural pieces that push the boundaries of ceramic form. Perhaps most distinctive is her experimental approach to glazing, developing unique palettes that have become a hallmark of her work.
“Working from the Hoxton studio that she originally established in the 1980s, her broad practice ranges from wheel-thrown functional pots to sculptural works that explore both the precincts of ceramic form and the interactions of colour through the unique palette of glazes that she develops.”
This shared philosophy of thoughtful, enduring design has resulted in a collection that continues to evolve. Her works, which have garnered international recognition through exhibitions both in the UK and abroad, can be found in all Margaret Howell shops, where a rotating selection of exclusive pieces showcases her ongoing exploration of ceramic possibilities.
Through her collaboration with Margaret Howell, Tassie demonstrates how traditional craft can be both timeless and contemporary, creating pieces that are not just objects, but vessels of story and significance in our daily lives.
Editor's Note: I discovered Nicola Tassie's work through Margaret Howell, a designer whose understated elegance and commitment to craftsmanship I've long admired. There's something deeply resonant about how both artists approach their work - a shared appreciation for simplicity, functionality, and the quiet beauty of well-crafted objects. Tassie's ceramics, like Howell's clothing, speak to those who value the intersection of artistry and everyday utility.
Further Information
View Nicola Tassie's work at margarethowell.co.uk
Learn more about her practice at nicolatassie.com
Follow her studio updates on Instagram @nicolatassie
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