BENTE ØSTERGAARD SØRENSEN

Bente Østergaard Sørensen is an Aarhus-based Danish ceramicist, whose works reflect profound influence from the coastal landscapes that surround her. Attuned to nature’s changing moods, a sense of mercuriality is intrinsic to Sørensen’s artistic expression and each of her objects. Harnessing unpredictability, she works primarily with raw materials sourced from nature, spanning clay, volcanic ash, sand and gravel. Unexpected outcomes from continuous experimentations lend a palpable connectivity between Sørensen’s craft and the natural world that she draws from.

Continuously navigating the relationship between raw, natural elements and refined craftsmanship, Sørensen’s practice rooted in experimentation welcomes unpredictability to shape the final expressions of her works, often using multiple firings. The result is a series of tactile, expressive objects where nature and material merge in a poetic dialogue of form, texture, and place.

“Each work is characterised by the small coincidences that occur during the process, which makes them unique and alive. I strive to limit my choice of materials from what comes from nature itself – this makes the works vital and full of life.” – Bente Sørensen

Bente Østergaard Sørensen presents three stoneware clay sculptures for Collection 16, each informed by the raw, volatile beauty of the Aarhus coastal landscapes and the North Sea.