Ebb and Flow

About Ebb and Flow

Paula Murray’s extraordinary porcelain artworks test the boundaries of ceramic art and have been recognized the world over for their distinctive form, pattern and colour. This vessel is part of her furled collection-- its gently curled edges emulate forms found in nature—dried leaves, shells and a butterfly’s chrysalis. The colour of the porcelain is a rich teal blue accented by lines of deep red that appear as ‘fractures’ on the surface—a signature of Murray’s work.

“My furled forms, like a pupa, are the tangible remains of a remarkable transformation. Some fit gently into the crook of my arm, like a newborn baby, others reminiscent of unbridled adolescents.” Paula Murray

Born in Ottawa, Paula Murray studied science at the University of Ottawa and ceramics at Sheridan College. Elected to the International Academy of Ceramics (2017) and the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts (2006) she has based her full-time studio practice from Meech Lake, in Gatineau Park since 1980.

Exhibiting in prestigious exhibitions in Canada, Italy, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Portugal, Romania and the USA, she has received several awards and creation grants. In 2021, Paula Murray was awarded one of the highest honours granted by the Quebec government in recognition of an exceptional career in the arts—the Prix d’excellence from le Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec.

Public collections include the World Korean Ceramic Foundation Museum, Yingge Ceramic Museum, Taiwan, Museum of Ceramics, Faenza Italy, Canada House, London, UK, and in Canada the Gardiner Museum, Museum of History, and Art Bank.