Collecting Contemporary Ceramics

Join contemporary ceramicist Freya Bramble-Carter alongside a collector of her work, Henriane Mourgue d’Algue in a lively discussion about what it means to collect this medium today. The panel will be moderated by Collection Manager and Founder of CURA Art, Georgia Powell. The group will consider how collecting ceramics differs from other art forms and collectables, ceramics’ aesthetic appeal and functionality, how it offers a vessel for self-exploration, and how this tangibility is also experienced by the viewer. In an age of the development of AI, the panel will place the handmade and ancient techniques at the fore, considering how material affects response.

Freya Bramble-Carter is a London-based ceramic artist, known for creating contemporary vase designs, often strongly inspired by flora and fauna, and balancing the flow of femininity and masculinity. In her philosophy, she tries to live in the most authentic way that is true for her, to learn about life and expand this into her clay work and relationships. Freya has been working with clay since she was a child, firing pots in her father’s studio from a young age. Her father, Chris Bramble, has been a ceramics artist and teacher for over 40 years, and they now share a studio space in London, where they also teach pottery. Hand-sculpted figures are often assembled with thrown forms, both functional and non-functional. They bring together a cross-generation of contemporary references to ceramic sculpture and are inspired by an appreciation of traditional European and African craftsmanship.

Henriane Mourgue d’Algue has over two decades of corporate, business management and executive coaching experience across continents and numerous industries. Her current focus is on impact investing, money coaching and accelerating inclusion. She has always had an interest in art having studied Art History at UCL and aims to give back to the arts through her collecting and philanthropic activities. Henriane collects works and supports underrepresented artists with a particular interest in the subject of identity and cultural exchange. She was born and raised in Belgium and has lived and worked in the US, Singapore, India, the Middle East, and the UK. She is the Founding Patron for Second Floor Studios, a Patron of The Residency Community, sits on the Executive Board of the Fondation BeLonging (France) and is interested in supporting projects that benefit artists directly.

Georgia Powell is a curator and collection manager, the co-founder of CURA Art and The Residency; platforms aimed at supporting art collectors and encouraging patronage with purpose. Having gained experience in London’s museums, galleries and private collections, Georgia specialises in the professional management, research and display of collections. She is a featured lecturer at Christie’s Education and speaks regularly about the role of the collector today. Georgia is Curator to the Estate of Jane McAdam Freud and a Trustee for Plain Sight Archive.