Angela Sue Kent

Angela Sue Kent

[BFA] Ceramics

Though my work is rooted in functional pottery, I make ornate and precious items intended as an aide for meditation and mindfulness. As a neurodivergent maker, referring to the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, I am often thinking about how the function of my work can aid my community with nontraditional functions. My Palm Radials are inspired by traditional worry stones and Nepalese mandalas.  These objects are intended to be a tactile outlet for stimming (as in stimulation, being the repetitive or unusual movements or noises used to help the person calm down and regulate) and are designed to be held discreetly in the palm of the user’s hand.

My ceramic process uses stained clay and underglazes to achieve a wide range of color combinations. All of my recent work has been made with handmade stamps, no two the same as they vary in size and design, to achieve a consistent mark around the radial patterns. Each layer of the pattern is a reaction of the negative space left by the layer before, referencing how each decision affects the next. You can see this theme cross over to my wall platters, as they interact similarly as the stamps. These are intended to live on the wall in multiple segments to create a pattern, but are also functional and can be used as serving dishes or a centerpiece. The stamps and color choices throughout the individual pieces work to tie one another together while still giving each a weight of their own. Like the individual stamps, the shapes and sizes of these platters give an infinite possibility of arrangements and patterns. 

Angela Sue Kent is a spring 2022 BFA undergraduate at UNL, emphasizing in ceramics. Starting in ceramics at the age of 14, Angela participated in multiple programs before landing at UNL to finish their degree. In high school they participated in the Kent Bellows Teen Mentorship program through the Joslyn Art Museum. Following graduation from Omaha North High School, their work was featured in an Alumni Exhibition and Wishbone fundraising event at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE. Most recently they have shown work in the 35th Annual Undergraduate Juried Exhibition at the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery at UNL. See more of their work on Instagram by following them @angela.s.kent.

Instagram:
@angela.s.kent