Today we’d like to introduce you to Hillary Cumberworth.
Hi Hillary, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The best way to understand me is to know I was born the caboose of my families crazy train…. the fourth and last kid to my parents in Austin, Texas, following an oldest sister and two brothers. I was a super creative child and was always making and sewing things, with four projects going at the same time but sports ruled my life at that point. I played four sports in high school and had no time for fun electives in school but I knew I wanted to be an artist in my core. So, when I went to college, I told my advisor I wanted to be a fine arts major and her reply was, show me your portfolio. I did not have a portfolio at that point but told her if she took a chance on me I wouldn’t let her down. She took a leap of faith and I have been creating ever since! i went on to be a studio assistant to three lovely women in NYC, the foundry assistant at the Glassell school of art and then a middle school art teacher in Houston’s Fourth ward before moving abroad to Dubai with my husband, Jon, whom I met while we both played basketball at our university. we proceeded to have three kids while living overseas and my my title changed to mom for a few years. After moving our life back to Austin, I began to establish my art career again and now have my work in several galleries and stores across Texas. I also rediscovered my love of teaching and now teach handbuilding classes and workshops at Mud Studio and Laguna Gloria here in Austin.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am the mom to three children and have a husband with a busy career. As every working mom knows, finding that balance between work and family is challenging. Being an artist brings another layer to that equation since you have to find that creativity flow inside of you to complete a project. It’s not just completing tasks, you have to tap something inside of you to turn on that creative element to work on a piece. Also, as a mom, I feel like society doesn’t think of a working artist as a profession and it is views it more as a hobby. Any artist will tell you that is so far from the truth! The entrepreneurial hats that one must wear to run an art business is not for the faint of heart.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a sculptor living and working in Austin, Texas. The gentle curving lines of my sculptures are built by hand using clay, slab and coil techniques. I work with clay because of the history intrinsic to the material itself. Clay is the product of water relentlessly rushing over the earth and holds that history in every ounce of its density. I create movement, dips, folds, and high points by pressing into the clay body, intentionally pushing the clay to its farthest capabilities just before collapsing. My process is to then refine the piece using simple wooden tools and metal ribs to smooth any imperfection. Cumberworth uses neutral and naturally occurring glaze colors to harmonize with the organic body of the clay.
Storytelling and the connectivity of our experiences is a key element to my work. Every bend and curve in these pieces represent the moments in life that make an impact on our narrative- small and unseen snippets or catastrophic waves that mold us and our thinking. My sculptures are meant to show the pure beauty and strength that can only be held after struggle and sacrifice. A single vessel can stand solo to shine independently. However, when grouped together, the impression of one’s pain fits into the nook of another’s progression, creating a puzzle of empathy through struggle and growth. We each have a history to tell, as does the clay that creates these vessels. Sharing the story of our collective humanity.
My years living abroad provided me with a thoughtful perspective on the world which is manifested in my sculptural work. No matter where you are from and what you fundamentally believe, the common thread that connects us all is the desire for a better life for our families, our children and for each other. I think that is something that fuels my fire and i reason why i love teaching ceramics. talking to people! Getting to know their stories and hearing what makes them tick and makes their heart sing will always be something that fills my cup.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love connecting with other creatives and collectors. The best way to get a hold of me is through email; Hillary@hillarycumberworth.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hillarycumberworth.com
- Instagram: hillarycumberworthART
