At MŌR we are continually drawn to artists whose work is shaped as much by geography as by instinct. Joanna Kitchener carries Poland, Japan and Scotland quietly within her practice — a convergence of cultures distilled into clay.

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Her academic grounding in Japanese language and Far Eastern Studies first opened the door to an aesthetic philosophy that continues to guide her hand. Time spent living and studying in Japan instilled a reverence for simplicity, restraint and the quiet poetry of everyday objects. That sensibility hums gently through everything she makes.

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Working primarily in stoneware, Joanna creates both functional and sculptural pieces using a blend of wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques. We are particularly drawn to her celebration of “perfect” imperfection — the visible crack, the softened edge, the uneven surface. Her mixed clay bodies and tactile finishes feel honest and elemental, each piece carrying the memory of touch.

From her self-built Scottish studio, she works slowly and intentionally, allowing texture, earth and atmosphere to speak. The result is ceramics with presence — subtle yet soulful, made not simply for use, but for living alongside.