Ilona Sulikova is originally from Czechoslovakia, has travelled extensively, and now lives in York. Her current work is influenced by hand-building techniques she learned in Africa coupled with painting elaborate geometric patterns with dry copper glaze.

Ilona says. “I enjoy the quiet process of hand-building, being in control of the pot as it gradually swells, and finally finishing it off. My geometric designs are intended to create dynamic sequences of rhythm and movement. In order to achieve fusion between the pattern and the spherical form, all my pieces are raku fired. This also means that I have to surrender some control over the final result which always retains an element of unpredictability.”