Meet Porcelain Ceramicist Tom Kemp

Porcelain is apparently one of the hardest clays to craft. But as ceramicist Tom Kemp tells us, he decided to attempt it as a novice after taking courses at London’s Turning Earth, and has never looked back.
Originating in China some 2,000 years ago, porcelain is regarded as the most prestigious forms of pottery, no doubt in part to the demanding production process. Self-taught ceramic artist Tom Kemp chose to work with it since he started taking weekend courses six years ago, and has been mesmerised ever since.

Rising to the challenge of working with such a difficult ceramic medium, Kemp, who has garnered over 100,000 Instagram followers, has not only mastered the art of throwing porcelain and various ceramic techniques—including glazing and free hand painting—but also created his very own style of working with the delicate clay.
Originally intrigued by calligraphy and the tradition of Roman sign writing—used to carve the monumental lettering on ancient Roman buildings—Kemp uses a singular brush mark to transform his exquisite minimal vases and vessels into one-off abstract forms.
Want to try your hand at ceramics? Take up a course at Turning Earth‘s east London centre.
Why not watch another video in our ceramics series where we talk to baker turned ceramicist Lily Pearmain.

About the author

Freire Barnes

Art & Design Editor

Born in the heart of London, Freire's been surrounded by art since childhood. From being mesmerised by Fra Angelico's frescos in Florence to experiencing Dali's Mae West room in Caduceus, Freire's extensive travels instilled a love of the arts. After studying painting she worked for David Bowie's, Bowieart and began to write for the BBC, Bon and Dazed &amp Confused. She curated the Converse x Dazed Emerging Artists Award and was one of the first cohort to graduate from the Royal College of Art's Critical Writing in Art &amp Design MA. When not at an art opening, she's excited to bring her global art discoveries to the Culture Trip's readers.