Mary Philpott

Mary Philpott is a full-time craft artist whose practice encompasses both sculptural ceramics and bespoke tile design. She is a graduate of the School of Craft and Design, Sheridan College (Ceramics) the University of Guelph (Art History, Medieval Studies) and McMaster University (Archeology, Anthropology).  

Mary has worked as an artist in residence at Harbourfront Studios (Toronto) and Air Vallauris (France). Her sculptures and tile work have been exhibited, collected and published internationally, and are in many private and public art collections. She lives and maintains her studio practice in the Uxbridge, Ontario countryside. 

To quote Mary, “The raven croaking, deer on the edge of the forest and snowshoe hares hiding in the hedgerows. Living closer to us are our domesticated and familiar friends: the donkey and goats, the fox and the hounds.  

My rendering of these reflects a historical reference to nineteenth century children’s book illustrations, as well as medieval manuscript illuminations, through the body and rendering of fur, hair and feathered surfaces of the Beings.  

They are in static poses like in the medieval book of hours paintings, suggesting that each be considered, or remembered, as a representation of an animal in a folktale for the viewer to recall a narrative and enactment of a loved story, or as part of an allegory.  

Ultimately, I would like the viewer to be reminded of a story that they recall with fondness, happiness and a love of the narrative that the animal represents for them”.