Words from the Gallery

As an animal lover myself, I think there is something rather magical in the creations of Jasmine Simpson.

Jasmine intuitively bears out the ‘essence’ and ‘soul’ within her subject, tenderly capturing its true character. Her animals have a personality all of their own and it’s easy for me to connect with their inner story and their subtle eccentricities.

For me art is not something just to be looked at and admired, but from somewhere inside that we have strong bonds with, I feel this in the wonderful creations of Jasmine Simpson.

Key Dates

2011 – BA Hons (1st) – 3d Design and Ceramics at Staffordshire University
2014 – Exhibited at the New Designer Exhibition – London Design Centre
2014 – Maker for London Tower Poppy Project (Aug-Nov)
2014-15 – Decoration Artist – Emma Bridgewater
2015-17 – Resident Artist at Middleport Pottery, Stoke on Trent
2016 – Featured in Ceramic Review ‘Ten to Watch’ (July/August)
2019 – R.C.A Ambassadorial Artist Residency – Taoxichaun International Studios, Jingdehzen, China (Sept-Dec)
2020 – Graduated from Royal College of Art London
2020 – Featured on British Craft Council’s Christmas Newsletter (Nov/Dec)
2021 – Featured in ELLE Decoroation – Lizzie Deshayes ‘Women to Watch’ (March)

Background

Growing up in the Potteries from a very early age Jasmine was always encouraged to use clay in her environment.

Born in Boston, Lincolnshire and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Jasmine received her BA in 3D Design and Ceramics at Staffordshire University 2014 and her MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art, London 2020.

A true connectivity with animals, Jasmine explores her creativity in contemporary ceramics with her underlining love for wildlife and zooological studies:-

“We have used zoomorphic iconography for as long as we could depict animals onto cave walls. We use animals to represent ourselves, they have become archetypes, spiritual entities and greatest allies. The term ‘Phsycopomp’ particularly interests me, throughout history; across many cultures these creatures/spirits are said to take the form of a number of animals to help guide the dying into the afterlife. In Jungian Psychology the phsycopomp is a mediator between the conscious and unconscious, I see them as a representation of our inner selves. I often find myself with sketchbook in hand capturing initial drawings and paintings of live subjects in nature, I can then use these expressive snapshots to inform my sculptural practice. I reference literature that looks at animals as metaphor, a theme that allows me to investigate the ambiguous, dark humour of the human spirit, such as the works of Ted Hughes ‘Crow’ and George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. I like to tell a story about these subjects in a variety of materials including paper and ceramics, the ghostly white materials provide a canvas in animal form which alludes to spirit-like creatures revealed behind the layers of ink, paint, oxides and stains. In future I want to explore a multiplicity of mediums that will inform each other, such as books, painting, print, ceramics and wood.”

‘Royal College of Art, Artists Statement’

Public acclaim for Jasmine’s artworks has followed her throughtout her artistic journey as she was recognised by the Ceramic Review Periodical in 2016 for her animal studies, in 2020 following graduation from the R.C.A her work has been featured heading up the British Craft Councils Christmas Newsletter and Jasmine has also been featured in ELLE Decoration as one of the ‘9 New Female Designers’ to look out for https://www.elledecoration.co.uk/design/a35681515/new-female-designers-to-know/

• It is so exciting for Taurean Arts to be a part of Jasmine’s fabulous journey.