Lenneke Wispelwey Ceramics
Geometric patterns meet thoughtful pastels in the Dutch ceramicist’s array of housewares
There’s an elegant simplicity to the work of Arnhem, Netherlands-based ceramicist Lenneke Wispelwey. There’s also a touch of mathematical fun. As a whole, her work is easily recognizable for two specific reasons. Regardless of what design object she is constructing—be it a plate or a carafe—orderly geometric shapes add clean structural definition. As for color, Wispelwey (who founded her studio in 2008) works primarily in pastels, often within different shades of one color and with variation between biscuit and glazed porcelain. These lovely hues lend her work a delicate warmth. Whether it’s dinnerware or vases, there’s a connectivity to her designs that hinge on techniques that have been in use for centuries, coupled with her own creative twist.
Wispelwey doesn’t focus on a particular product, and instead continues to explore potential lines—she says this has to do with her early desire for siblings when she was a child. In some ways, all of these different pieces are a part of the same, expansive family and meant to be used together. The designer refers to each object as “honest” and “low-tech,” created to be touched and used—not just admired.
Her birdhouse stands out as her most distinct piece of (eco-friendly) art. The design was the product of a competition Wispelwey took part in, and won. She says that she was inspired—logically—by birds in her own backyard. The piece, titled “Who Needs a Wooden House Anyway,” carries as much whimsicality in its construct as it does in its name.
Wispelwey’s various ceramic products are available for purchase online or various retailers.
Images courtesy of Lenneke Wispelwey
