Artist: Lauren Cressman
Title: Het Vrouw-zijn
Medium: Ceramic porcelain
Dimensions: 16 x 9 x 9 inches
Price: $900
Artist Statement: "Het vrouw-zijn" is the Dutch term for womanhood or femininity. As a young girl, fine china—often Delftware—was brought out only for Easter and other special occasions. With it came the quiet introduction to the responsibilities associated with being a woman: setting the table, preparing meals, learning to mend and sew, nurturing younger siblings, and presenting myself in a certain way.
In this piece, I use traditional Delftware patterns and forms to reflect the expectations placed on women, particularly the roles of motherhood and domesticity. These expectations still weigh heavily on me today, as I navigate life as a working woman who provides financially for her family while also growing older without yet being able to have children. This work embodies the ongoing tension between societal expectations and lived reality, the pressure to conform to an ideal of womanhood that often conflicts with the complexities of everyday life.
Artist Bio: I have been creating all my life and continue to work primarily with clay. I work out of my home studio in Provo. My artistic practice is deeply influenced by personal experiences and observations of the world. My work often explores themes of human connection, personal growth, sexuality, and the intricate beauty of nature. Utilizing a blend of traditional and modern techniques, I create pieces to invite viewers to engage in a dialogue with their own emotions and experiences while commenting on my own. I am also a high school and private art teacher. I enjoy fostering creativity in others. As an art educator, I am passionate about nurturing the next generation of artists, encouraging them to explore their own voices and perspectives.
