Yasha spent five years working as an interior designer, but found that her minimalist designs had something missing. In her words, the spaces were ‘nice’, but instead of feeling calm and inviting, they felt lifeless and flat.

Moving to clay she started creating natural, irregular textured pieces that provided what was missing. Those abstract, asymmetrical shapes are impossible to do on a wheel so much of her work is done by coiling – long rope-like coils of clay are rolled and then stacked to gradually build the piece layer by layer. Colours are muted and earthy suggesting natural materials such as stone, sand and earth, an suggestion strengthened by the surface textures.

The imperfections in form are graceful and flowing, the pieces don’t demand attention but they are hard to miss. Yasha has retained a minimalistic sensibility but discovered an intrinsic ability to add the character to those previously lifeless spaces.

All images: © Yasha Butler