About
Gemma Smale is a UK-based ceramicist whose practice focuses on the creation of wood-fired ceramics, exploring the relationship between materials and traditional firing techniques. She holds a BA in Ceramic Design from Central Saint Martins, London, also working alongside makers including Michel Francois, Emma Lacey, and Akira Satake. Working both on the wheel and by hand, Gemma produces decorative and sculptural pieces for galleries and interior designers. Recently having built a traditional wood firing kiln, her practice works on progressing her surface development through wood firing. Working to understand how the flame and atmosphere within the kiln can interact with clay body without the full coverage of applied glaze.
Her work has recently been exhibited with Heritage Crafts, at London Craft Week and with Design Nation and she has just won the Make It Award at Cockpit Arts London.
Process
Gemma Smale’s work uses wood fired kilns to create unique surfaces across her work. Using wood to fuel her firings each piece has a varied surface from ash deposits landing upon the piece and melting to form a glassy surfaces and textures. Different woods and different firing lengths vary and effect the surface of each individual piece creating a natural glaze that flows around the clay. Firings can last up to 5 days to create a build up of ash across the surface of the piece that decorate the form. Restricting her use of applied glaze to reveal the effect of the kiln on the clay body that is often covered in a full glassy layer, allowing you to feel the texture of the clay itself.
Wood firing captures the movement of a fleeting flame that passes over pieces in the kiln at 1280C leaving a trail of how it passed across the piece. Each indiviual piece tells the story of its firing, the makers that stayed to help stoke the kiln and the position of the piece against the flame. Recent bodies of work show her collaboration with the kiln, each face of the piece telling its narrative and showing its variations and varying faces as you move around the piece.
Recent explorations include the use of salt and soda, sprayed into the kiln during the firing.
Upcoming
– Shiro Oni Fall Woodfire 2025 — Shiro Oni Studio
– Winter Open Studios — Cockpit Arts, Deptford
2025
– From The Fire — The Gibberd Gardens (Solo Show)
– New Designers Selects — New Designers
– Gibberd Gallery- selected group exhibition
– And The Work Goes On — New Brewery Arts, Heritage Crafts
2024
– Columbia Road Clay: 65th Firing — Columbia Road
– Materiality — The Common Rooms Project
- Gibberd Gallery- selected group exhibition
– First Edition Group Show — Rialto
– London Craft Week — Haeckels
– London Craft Week — Rialto
– London Craft Week — Cluster Crafts
– Design Nation Presents — The Hub, Sleaford
2023
– Central Saint Martins Graduate show 2023
– The Space Between — TM Lighting Gallery (Group Show)
– An Artist’s Refuge — Parndon Mill
2022
– On Reflection — Parndon Mill
– Selected Group Exhibition — Gibberd Gallery
Awards
Winner of the Make It Award at Cockpit Arts, sponsered by The Prudence Trust
Winner of the Authors Interiors Award 2025
Selected for Sarah Myrescough Material Encounters
Design Nation Graduate Selection 2024/25
Shortlisted for New Ashgate Rising stars 2024
Shortlisted Arts Thred Global Design Graduate Show in collaboration with Gucci 2023
Residencies
Shiro Oni, Onishi Japan Autumn 2025. Funded by the Sasakawa foundation
Seen In
Ceramic Review Emerging Maker
Sight unseen
Grazia Casa uk
Homes & gardens
Livingetc
Hús og Híbýli
The Style Sunday Times
Country Homes & interiors
Wallpaper mag