We are honoured that she accepted the nomination and is preparing a body of work especially for the exhibition.
Eylene Clifford is a South African ceramic artist whose work is rooted in embodied experience, sensory awareness, and the need for containment. Her practice is deeply informed by her lived female experience — her cycle, sensitivity, and the ways being in this body shapes how she moves through the world.
Clay became home for her at a time when she was far from it, offering a steady, grounding presence when life felt overwhelming. Working with the material is an ongoing dialogue: clay acts as a mirror, reflecting what is being avoided, held too tightly, or feels too much. Through this conversation, her work emerges slowly, shaped by attention, responsiveness, and care.
Her forms are influenced by the South African landscape, particularly the pronounced seasonal shifts of Gauteng — from lush greens and vibrancy to winter’s quiet, pared-back tones. At its heart, her work invites stillness and presence, creating space for viewers to reconnect with their own inner depth and felt experience.
Eylene Clifford can be followed on instagram and facebook.
