Interview With Artist Ariel Clute

ARIEL CLUTE is an artist living in Berkeley, California. After graduating from California College of the Arts in 2008, Ariel taught printmaking at Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, California. Her days are now split between being a mother of three and working with ceramics in her home studio in Berkeley, California.

Ariel’s work is known for its sculptural and minimalist forms. Each piece is hand built–some adorned with painted figurative motifs–allowing the shape and feel to emerge organically. Her work is a meeting point of form and function, bringing art into the everyday living experience. 'When I paint, I try to bring imagery to life, while still having it fixed in a specific moment in time. This process is a way of honoring the little and under-looked moments in my life.' Jewelry designer and mutual friend Hannah Love sat down with Ariel to learn more about her life and work.

Is it true that as a practicing artist, ceramic work was something you came to later in your career?

Yes, it has only been a few years now that I have considered ceramics to be my art practice and decided to take it on full time. I was exposed to the medium throughout my childhood but did not take up classes again till a few years after my eldest daughter Talula was born in 2010. Like any medium, there is always so much to learn, and so much unpredictability, which keeps it exciting!

Your ceramic pieces are objects of beauty–they have such a sculptural presence–but as vessels, they are also utilitarian objects for the home. Can you talk about what draws you to ceramics and what the vessel represents?

My work definitely pushes the functional and sculptural. Some of my favorite pieces appear impractical, or feel like they are defying gravity with their organic shape. When constructing my work I like to embrace the natural organic qualities that arise while working on each piece. Each piece goes through multiple processes before reaching completion. In the studio I work on up to 7 pieces at a time and rotate between each piece. When I begin building I do not plan my forms ahead; I enjoy letting the process and material dictate the form. On occasion I will sketch out ideas in a journal I keep on my bedside and find that some of those ideas naturally come into existence when I am working in the studio.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was little I wanted to be an archeologist or a marine biologist. I imagined traveling the world and learning many languages. This part of my life has not presented itself yet, but I do have a deep love for nature and am inspired by functional objects of the past and the stories they tell us now.

You have known Erica Tanov for a number of years and your work feels so at home in her shop and studio. What qualities of your aesthetic approach to you think you both share?

I believe that both Erica and I have an appreciation of nature and material, and we seek ways to bring this natural beauty into our everyday lives.

As a mother of three young girls, what does a typical work day look like for you?

I have really struggled with creating a regular schedule, especially during Covid when the kids have been at home more. I can say, it has pushed me to create a proper home studio, which has allowed me to work whenever I get the chance–often after dinner and into the evening. My kids are also at the age where I can set them up with their own clay work while I squeeze in a few hours here and there. During the school year I am able to have more of a routine where I am in the studio while the kids are in school. I do have to keep myself organized and aware of where I am in the process of each piece as nothing is completed in a singular studio session.

Do you have favorite summertime recipes or foods–healthy, or guilty pleasures?

Summertime foods are some of my favorites. We are always so excited to get to mid-July and August when we can cover the counters in tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers. I love making gazpacho and variations on an herby tomato salad. I gently toss tomatoes and cucumbers with basil leaves, dill, parsley, chervil, mint, sometimes a tad of tarragon with olive oil and lemon salt and pepper. Sometimes it is fun to mix it up and add whole small grilled peppers or avocado.

How do you measure success?

I'll probably spend my lifetime evaluating this question. I currently look at success in the macro and micro. When I narrow it into individual projects, goals, and tasks, I evaluate my experience with these individual moments and whether I am able to complete or move through the experience and come out the other side with a feeling of proud accomplishment. I would consider that a success. When I zoom out and look at things from a broader spectrum I can get caught up questioning myself and choices I made along the way. Probably everyone does that to some extent! So it's good to have a balance and find a way to feel success, but also keep asking, in a big picture kind of way, if you are getting where you want to be.

What are some things we can do to help people appreciate and support the arts and lives of artists?

I think that even if you are not someone who can make direct donations to supporting the arts, there are still many ways to contribute. That could be things like taking art classes and workshops, going to events, gallery openings and pop ups. Even if you're not purchasing art, it brings the community together which is important. You can always support the shops and artists directly through sales. For me as an artist it has always been important to have someone there who is an emotional support. That can be a friend, family, or another person within my creative community. Someone who might reach out when they have extra room in a firing, or comfort you when the pieces in the kiln explode during a firing. The best friends of artists come to openings, or maybe they build you a few shelves at the last minute, when you are in need!