She is interested in how we perceive ourselves, others and everything around us...
Jo Gifford, a former practicing doctor who graduated with a degree in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts in 2015, uses clay as her medium to explore concepts surrounding boundaries, containment, and categorization. Her artistic journey examines how we perceive ourselves and others, questioning what characteristics prompt us to categorize things differently or group them together. Now based in her studio in Kirriemuir, Jo brings a thoughtful, process-driven approach to her ceramic work.
From Medicine to Material Exploration
Jo's transition from medicine to fine art represents a significant shift in her professional life, yet her analytical mindset remains evident in her artistic practice. Working primarily with porcelain and stoneware, she creates vessel-inspired pieces that serve as containers of space and time rather than functional objects. Her work begins on the potter's wheel before incorporating hand-building techniques, carving, and polishing—allowing each piece to evolve organically without forcing predetermined outcomes.
The Process as Contemplation
The repetitive, slow nature of working with clay is fundamental to Jo's artistic philosophy. This deliberate approach serves as a counterpoint to today's fast-paced consumer culture, creating pieces that embody time, care, and human touch. Her relatively small works—sized in relation to the human hand—feature carved, polished, or burnished surfaces, often with glazed interiors and distinctive rounded bottoms that disrupt functionality. Through these carefully crafted pieces, Jo encourages viewers to observe closely, question their perceptions, and reconsider their own systems of categorization and value.