hello!
My name is Sydney Berkeley, and I focus mainly on working with natural materials within my work. In May of 2022, I graduated with a BFA in Ceramics at Maine College of Art & Design, and in early 2023 I began making work at the Crimson Artist Collective in Wisconsin. In April of 2023, I completed a fellowship at Pocosin Arts in North Carolina where I created a body of work focusing on medicinal herbs. I am now focusing on ecological restoration, my connection to the earth, and how other aspects of my life can inform my creative process. As someone concerned about our Earth's health, I am taking time to consider what it means to be creative rather than using clay mined from the land to make work that is not fully realized. I am excited about this turning point in my journey and finally realizing that an artist does not have to actively make work to be considered an artist! I hope to share new work with you soon, whether fired within the chamber of a kiln or constructed with other materials from our beautiful planet.
artist biography
Sydney Berkeley is originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts and has recently relocated to Wisconsin. In 2022, she graduated with a BFA in Ceramics from Maine College of Art and Design. As an illustrator and ceramic artist, Berkeley creates both functional and sculptural work that depict fantastical characters enjoying childlike activities. Within her work, she aims to create whimsical narrative scenes that evoke childhood magic. She is motivated by the idea of nurturing the audience by imbuing her work with a sense of comfort. Berkeley’s illustrative ceramics speak to all ages and encourage the viewer to appreciate the vibrancy of life.
Her work has been featured in several exhibitions including MECA&D's 2022 Thesis Exhibition: Entwine; GATHER, an Exhibition at the University Hall Gallery at UMass Boston in 2021; and Disrupt(ed) - a 2021 Junior Seminar Show at Maine College of Art & Design. She received “Best Work by a Senior” from Maine College of Art & Design’s 2021 BFA Exhibition, as well as an Honorable Mention from Maine College of Art & Design’s 2020 BFA Merit Exhibition.