As an artist I am open to all material but find the science of ceramics to be the most intriguing.  I have an interest in working architecturally in my ceramics process.  Being a carpenter who has worked in all aspects of construction makes me curious about the space within space and how structure is achieved.  The Bauhaus mentality of quality, craftmanship and design has guided and grounded me on my making journey.

     As a maker and a builder, I reflect and reference what is happening in society around me.  I have an autobiographical approach like all artists. Through the inclusion of history and a connectivity with the current I use art to record time and space into material. The work serves as a physical, knowable, and approachable vehicle that expresses my world experience and its rhizomes. Working through abstraction of the human form allows me to speak to the metamorphosis of humanity within our knowable history.  My curiosities guide me through the meditation of my making process.  

     Functionality allows me to explore ideas of relationship and service. A vessel can enter the home and become part of a daily ritual.  You may even press your lips against it and allow its contents to sustain you with life. I enjoy the intimacy of making objects that fit the hand and function to provide energy, comfort and satisfaction.

 I am interested in the chemistry of materials.  High heat, calculated time and controlled force mimic the chemical reactions that earth utilizes to produce itself. The material science and malleability of ceramics and glass allows endless exploration opportunities in the consideration of color, sheen, durability, texture and final aesthetic.

     The history of ceramics embodies the story of the evolution of our species. Containment and its correlation to the advancement of civilizations keeps me grounded in context.   I am interested in ideas of storage and how it correlates to societies from around the world. If we provide a platform in the current atmosphere of the contemporary art world we can further this conversation of ceramics in the postmodern world of pastiche and corporate capitalism.

   I am passionate about making, viewing and discussing art and the roles it plays within society.  Categorizing my art into different series allows me to better understand my studio practice, research process and provides an alternative entry point for dialogue.  The current body of work includes the Vessel, Noumena, Humanity and Acirema. When we are surrounded by physical projections that are attainable through the senses we must rely on our perception to guide us to reality. To provide a better future, we must not forget the past.

-Matthew Jakielski