Artist Statement
My interest is in the interplay between pattern, texture and colour with a basis in botanical forms, especially flowers. Simplifying and reshaping these elements through hand-building is how I create these ceramic wall pieces.
The first series are wall plaques which include hand-formed bud vases with stylized flowers, inspired by the charm of a cut flower brought indoors. The second series are hand-built wall pockets. The surface of the clay is impressed with botanical-patterned fabric. Applied over that are hand-built flowers. Both underglazing at greenware and glazing at bisque are employed to add colour and dimension.
Through these pieces, I hope to celebrate the simple pleasure that flowers provide and the joy of bringing a little bit of nature into our homes.
Biography
Challen Pride-Thorne is a Coquitlam-based multimedia artist, with a primary focus on ceramics. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking from the University of Calgary and has worked over 20 years in graphic design. Her connection to Place des Arts began in 2013 when she took her first pottery class. Since then, she has been an active member of the Place des Arts ceramics program and volunteer community. In 2025, she joined the TriCity Potters executive, to further support the local ceramics community.