Patchwork Vase Van Raay

Size: 7 x 6 x 3.5" (opening)

Marina Van Raay is a Canadian-Japanese ceramic artist based in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a graduate of the Craft and Design Bachelor’s program at Sheridan College and is currently a full time artist in residence at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Her passion for clay and deep appreciation for craftsmanship were sparked by her father, who introduced her to pottery in 2016. Born in Japan, Van Raay moved to Canada at the age of five. Through her work, she explores the cultural experiences that have shaped her life.

Marina Van Raay's Artist Bio:
"Through design, process, and decoration, I explore my relationship with nostalgia, evoking childhood feelings of optimism and innocence. Embracing play as a design method, I aim to capture its essence throughout the making process. I build, embellish, and decorate intuitively, adding elements before and after firing to create layered, evolving surfaces. Influenced by Japanese pop culture and the maximalism of 2000s Harajuku culture,  I push the boundaries of conventional style by exploring the potentials of excessive decoration, collaging, embellishing, and the fusing of styles. Rooted in my cultural experiences, my work draws inspiration from personal memories and the complex emotions nostalgia evokes- joy, longing, and comfort all at once. Summer vacations in Japan with my family created cherished memories, fostering a deep connection to the language and culture that continue to shape my identity. Revisiting these memories from an adult perspective allows me to explore the nostalgic essence of my upbringing and translate those feelings and memories into my ceramic work."