- Art & Design
Ceramics are one of the best materials to let art and functionality meet each other. Artist Analuisa Corrigan is still young but can already call herself a clay expert. In her collection called Zen Garden Radio she combines sculptures with lighting while remaining curious and further developing her artistic identity.
Analuisa Corrigan is an artist who regularly switches between New York and Los Angeles. Even though she is only recently reaching the big public, her artistic development already started over ten years ago. In the past she experimented, among others, with clay, printing and paint. She graduated at Parsons School of Design and initially planned to make oil paint her earning medium. However, she stepped away from that and, in the end, ceramics became her field of expertise. The reason for this is that she wanted to explore spatial design and incorporate a focus on materiality and function in her creations. Her ceramics are characterised by their figurative forms and the sensory and natural feel they bring with them. Some themes that she examines through her art are language and sensations. Moreover, clay turned out to be an ideal match for her since the integrity of the material continuously interests her and, in addition, she is satisfied by the work process and the time needed to make her ideas – literally – tangible. 
The overarching theme is the dichotomy between chaos and balance.
Zen Garden is a collection that Analuisa Corrigan finished in 2021 and that allows ceramic sculptures and lighting to unite. It does not concern mere pieces of art with a decorative value, but rather functional additions to an interior that are testimonies of a great artisanal and artistic talent. The overarching theme within the pieces is the dichotomy between chaos and balance. This relates to the period when the collection was developed, namely Covid-19 times. The uncertainty and its impact on everyone’s wellbeing became central sources of inspiration for the artist. The fragility of body and mind conjured a desire in Corrigan to create something in which some contrasts would be immortalised. She did this by making unusual and precarious forms out of clay and, then, juxtapose these with the stability and the functionality of the lighting. 
The nice thing about this collection is the playful character that can, simultaneously, point to a clear origin, namely the uncertainty that everyone has experienced the last two years. Moreover, Corrigan makes undisputable beautiful ceramics that introduce innovative shapes. The combination of the light colour palette and the experimental curved lines ensures that each piece declares a subdued expressivity. Ideal for the calm interior that desires decoration without unwanted patterns or colours that possibly bring a harmonious space out of balance. Next to this, the collection is the ultimate proof that lighting does not have to be boring or impersonal. On the contrary, it is an exquisite opportunity to combine an essential aspect of the room with art and transform it into a unique element.
With Zen Garden Radio, artist Analuisa Corrigan positioned herself as a promising talent of which, in the future, we may expect more beautiful pieces out of ceramics or other materials. The thoughtful way in which she invited chaos and balance to dance has left a lasting impression on us. We hope that she will stay true to her vision, which has already proven to be a hit.
Images courtesy of Analuisa Corrigan Studio