Collection: Cécile Cayrol

Arles, France

Since 1997, ceramic artist Cécile Cayrol has been guided by a lifelong devotion to clay and the discipline of making by hand. Trained through an apprenticeship in Vallauris at sixteen, she has pursued her vocation for over two decades from her studio in Arles.

Her practice centers on two high-firing clays—black and chamotte red stoneware—chosen for their raw, granular presence. Combining wheel-throwing with coil building, Cayrol creates "Chamotte Nude Stoneware," leaving vessels unglazed to allow the material to speak for itself. Each piece emphasizes texture, silhouette, and balance, with handles shaped to enhance volume.

The surfaces are fully sanded, resembling stone carving, to reveal the material’s depth. Influenced by spirituality and Art Brut, her meditative approach allows form and material to lead. Whether functional or sculptural, these vessels serve as grounding presences that anchor a space. By attending to the slow passage of time, Cayrol’s work offers a way of experiencing the present through the enduring language of clay.