Sweetest Thing
Gillian Martin
Sweetest Thing (detail) 2026
Stoneware
Striped terra sigillata
22 x 22 x 16 cm
About the Artwork
This contained ceramic form is composed of two enclosed shapes balanced one above the other. A rounded lower body supports a smaller oval form connected by a narrow neck, creating a harmonious and sculptural silhouette. Continuous horizontal stripes wrap around the curves, enhancing the sense of volume, rhythm and movement. Layers of yellow, orange, coral, grey, black and white highlight the changing contours, while the simple, symmetrical form emphasises balance, proportion and the relationship between surface pattern and three-dimensional shape.
About the Artist
Gillian Martin is a ceramic artist based in Naarm/Melbourne. While she has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramics), she pursued a career in photography before returning to ceramics. Working primarily on the potter’s wheel, her practice explores organic ceramic forms and surface design, using coloured terra sigillata stripes to accentuate their curves and volumes. Inspired by nature, landscapes, and memory, her abstract forms reflect the colours, rhythms, and atmosphere of the natural world.
Combining planning and instinct, Gillian shapes each form to balance structure, movement, and surface detail. In 2025, she completed a four-month artist residency at Edinburgh Ceramics Workshop, where she developed new work and presented a solo exhibition. The experience expanded her practice through new influences, materials, and creative exchange. Gillian has been selected as a finalist in a number of ceramic and art awards.