From Code to Clay: A Maker’s Dialogue
There’s a subtle magic in Cadi Froehlich’s work, a calm hum that carries across copper wire and earth-warm clay. Each sculptural form seems to breathe with life, a quiet invitation to slow down and witness the hidden networks that connect us.
At the heart of her practice is a belief that artworks are meant to be lived with, not just admired. In a world obsessed with speed and perfection, Cadi’s pieces gently remind us to celebrate the imperfect, the handmade, the human.
Where It All Began: From Web to Wheel
Before stepping fully into ceramics, Cadi built a career in web design, exploring the digital codes that power modern communication. But the call of materiality proved stronger. Studying fine art in Brighton, Chelsea, and Camberwell, she began experimenting with copper and clay, fascinated by their shared language of conductivity, networks, and resilience.
In 2015, she was awarded the Red Mansion Prize and completed a transformative residency in Beijing. A year later, she was elected to The London Group, placing her among some of Britain’s most respected contemporary artists.
Her journey from digital to tactile, from code to clay, continues to inspire collectors, collaborators, and workshop participants alike.
Materials with Memory
Cadi’s creative language blends salvaged copper wire with stoneware clay, giving new life to discarded materials. Using techniques like pinching, coiling, slipware decoration, and copper staining, she layers history, utility, and artistic vision into every piece.
The gluggle jug series, a playful, coiled vessel that “gurgles” on pouring, is a perfect example of her practice: reinventing a traditional slipware form through contemporary accents and reclaimed elements.
“Copper is a commonly reclaimed and recycled material, whilst ceramics last for centuries… I imagine I am making objects which may provide the raw materials for future handmade devices.”
Through every maker’s mark, every copper stitch, she invites us to rethink sustainability — valuing the traces of the hand as much as the function of the piece.
A Heritage Reimagined
Slipware ceramics have been part of British pottery heritage for centuries, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent, whose folk patterns and decorative motifs still resonate today.
Cadi carries forward that legacy with a modern eye, embracing repairs, cockerel motifs, and cracks that celebrate resilience. Her work stands as a quiet homage to the long lineage of potters who understood that beauty can live in imperfection.
Inside the Studio: A Creative Community
Based in Brighton, Cadi works from a welcoming shared studio where copper coils, clay scraps, and conversation flow freely. Her creative space hosts workshops ranging from slipware masterclasses to sculptural storytelling, helping new makers build skills and confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment.
From County Hall Pottery in London to community sessions in Eastbourne, her workshops are about more than technique — they’re about celebrating creativity as a shared, joyful experience.
Shop, Join, or Learn
Shop the Collection: Discover select ceramic vessels, copper-stitched slipware, and sculptural artworks at cadifroehlich.com.
Book a Workshop:
-
Traditional Slipware Gluggle Jug Masterclass — County Hall Pottery, London, 28 June
-
Gluggle Jug Workshop — Eastbourne, 12 July
Details and booking via Cadi’s Linktree.
Connect & Follow:
-
Instagram: @cadi_f
-
Facebook: Cadi Froehlich Ceramics
Why It Matters
In an age of disposable culture, Cadi’s work reminds us of the value of the handmade, that art can be lived with, touched, and treasured. Her vessels and sculptures carry stories across generations, connecting material memory with hope for a more thoughtful, sustainable world.
In Cadi’s words:
“I make artworks to live with… I leave some makers’ traces on my work… I evoke digital communications with used wires and imprints of electrical components.”
artworks to live with
Spotlight curated by The Aartisian — celebrating the world’s handmade talent, one inspiring story at a time.
#TheAartisian #HandmadeStories #SupportMakers
No products in the cart.