Merete Rasmussen

Merete Rasmussen is Danish and studied ceramics MA at Kolding Design School. She moved to London in 2005 after graduating, after 11 years in the city she now lives in East Sussex where she has her own purpose-built studio. Merete works with sculptural abstract forms, concentrating in stoneware clay and hand build, her pieces use the coiling technique. Merete enjoys the challenging nature of both the material she works in and the building of complex structures, which despite their apparent fragility and complicated contours, must hold their own shape.

Merete Rasmussen, Future Heritage 2015 Alumnus

She is intrigued by the idea of a continuous surface, for example with one connected edge running through an entire form. The form is emphasized by a monochrome matt surface and Merete believes that strong colour builds further importance, strength and energy. Tending to use ceramic colours, she has worked for a long time to develop and create the strong shades with matt surface.

Merete tends to work after a sketch made in clay; the shape is built over a few days as the clay needs to harden to support itself, while also being supported by foam etc. When the form is fully built, she concentrates on the surface and scrapes it until smooth. After first firing, the piece is sanded and then sprayed with a coloured slip and fired two or three more times, sprayed with more layers.

Blue Loop By Merete Rasmussen

At Future Heritage

For Future Heritage in 2015, Merete made a group of new pieces in strong colours, both wall mounted and freestanding. These explored continuous surface and worked with the idea of a composition in three dimensions, seeking balance and harmony. The finished forms echoed feelings of energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of purpose.

“I was very excited to take part in Future Heritage at Decorex in its second year in 2015 and it was a great opportunity to have my work shown in a new context and to a new audience amongst high quality work by other makers. I got new contacts and some which eventually have led to sales and commissions." - Merete Rasmussen

Current work

Merete has been able to continue work to some extent during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lock-down as her studio is now closer to home. Currently, she is getting a group of work ready to send to a new contact – Scott Richards Contemporary in San Fransisco. After a solo exhibition at Pangolin London last year, Merete mainly worked on a few private commissions that came out of this show, as well as new work that was to be shown at Masterpiece and other art fairs, although these have now been cancelled. Meanwhile, one of Merete’s bronze sculptures has been installed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre in the newly built Jaguar Landrover building, Warwick University.

Evolve By Merete Rasmussen

If you would like to make an enquiry about Merete Rasmussen and commissions, get in touch here or visit her website www.mereterasmussen.com