Ceramic artist Mary Rose Young creates glamorous, unique pottery

Mary Rose Young has an eye for aesthetics and a knack for originality. The English artist’s love for pottery took form in college. Since then, her body of work has grown into an empire of distinctly creative objects, all exquisitely executed and helplessly enchanting.

Her expertise with ceramics is fluently manifested in vibrant pieces, decorated in exuberant colors and appealing patterns. Through her works, Young creates a whimsical and cheerful world, one no different than a fairytale.

“I would like to say it reflects my personality, that there is a big party going on, and really, my pottery is a party. That’s kind of the way I would like life to be like. And I would like people to notice that it is dramatically going on,” Young said in an interview for The Forest of Dean’s official tourism Web site. “My idea is to make the whole world a more glamorous and fun place through making beautiful pots.”

Her pieces are indeed an ode to fun and glamour, and through them she transports viewers into a playful state of mind. Her work has attracted buyers from all over the world, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, the British Royal Family, and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne.

By creating everyday objects with an artistic and creative spin she transforms the mundane into the extraordinary. Ornate vases, dainty candlesticks, playful tea-sets and eclectic chandeliers are but few examples of the vast array of pieces found in the Young workshop (located in the Forest of Dean, Britain’s “Rural Capital of Culture”).

Her unreserved experimentalism is something she is well known for – she plays with eclectic juxtapositions and daring combinations such as organic swirls paired with bold polka-dots, executed through a Fauvist use of color and a keen sense of design.

Young’s surroundings have always been influential factors when making new designs. Her childhood consisted of constant traveling and moving to new places, such as villages in the Forest of Dean, or Minorca in Spain. Many of the places her family visited were beautiful, exotic and inspiring. Nature provided the young artist with a current of endless ideas, a muse which continues to serve as a stimulant to her fertile creative vision.

Her every piece is as unique and energetic as the next, and all are unquestionably extensions of her effervescent personality. Every pattern and design is colored by her personal memories and sprinkled with her idiosyncratic humor.

Her one-of-a-kind creations are contagious and inspiring, and their festive character invokes charm and imagination, bringing to mind a world as magical as Alice’s Wonderland.

True to form, she continues to successfully transform empty spaces into playgrounds of vibrant colors and shapes. Whether you are a design buff, or simply a fan of the aesthetically appealing, Young pottery is not only a name but also the perfect description for her creations. These visual treats are a great addition to any setting, as they uplift and transform artistically desolate spaces into truly delightful environments.

Meet, greet and create with Mary Rose Young
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8
WHERE: Oh Kay’s, 4300 N. 10^th St., McAllen
CALL: (956) 686-1264
ONLINE: www.maryroseyoung.com

Alexandra M. Rovzar is an intern writer for Festiva and The Monitor. For information on internship opportunities for high school and college students, call Amy Nichol Smith at (956) 683-4420.