Alumni
Mari-Ruth Oda
Graduated 1996
Sculptor / Ceramicist / Designerwww.mari-ruthoda.com
I mainly make sculptures in clay for exhibitions at galleries as well as making to commission. The projects I have made pieces for are varied, including public art, corporate art through interior designers/architects and private collections for gardens and interiors. I have also designed functional products for larger manufacturing companies, such as Myla and Bathstore.
Having completed the Art Foundation Course, I was still unsure of the direction I wanted to go in, and wanted to carry on the experience of working with a variety of materials and genres of study. The Three Dimensional Design course allowed me to explore different areas within 3D, which is how I have come to work as a hybrid designer/artist/craftsperson. In this sense, the course has helped me shape my career.
The most important skill that I learnt was how to develop ideas for a piece of work, (including how to develop ideas through lateral thinking). This is very important especially for design based jobs in which the clients would like to see several ideas options to choose from.
My advice for students would be: Keep at it!
Selected Awards & Commissions:
Swindon Schools Public Art Commission 2007
Sculptures commissioned for Cancer Research UK garden at Chelsea Flower Show, London 2007
Residency at Shigaraki Cultural Ceramic Park, Shiga, Japan 2002
Pebble for Myla 2002
Crafts Council Setting Up Grant Award 2000
Keith Godwin Award for Sculpture 1998
