Mary Cowan

Mary graduated with a first-class honours degree from the University of Ulster where she specialised in ceramics and sculpture. She has been a member of Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, Co. Louth since November 2009.

Mary primarily uses a smooth textured crank clay for constructing her sculptures and wall pieces. She hand-builds using a combination of pinching, coiling, slabbing and mould casting. Because Mary is interested in showing off the texture of the clay she mostly decorates with oxides, underglazes and dry glazes which create a matt or satin surface. She often adds texture to her pieces by pressing organic objects such as dried poppy heads, eucalyptus pods, shells and even animal teeth. She has an ever-growing collection of textures.