Piped Like Cake Icing, Ebony Russell’s Luscious Vessels Evoke Emotional Celebrations
All images courtesy of Ebony Russell, shared with permission
Piped Like Cake Icing, Ebony Russell’s Luscious Vessels Evoke Emotional Celebrations
June 12, 2025
Art
Kate Mothes
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Piping clay with bakery tools, Ebony Russell creates a range of delectable vessels in a prism of colors.
Russell’s practice is founded in both the relationship between form and function and the nature of the vessel itself as a container for memory and gesture. “I’m interested in how material can carry emotion and presence,” she says. “A lot of what I make starts from personal experience, but I hope it opens space for others to reflect, too.”
Intrigued by the aesthetics and process of cakes, the Australian artist originally focused on sculptural motifs like bride-and-groom or ballerina toppers, but the icing itself gradually emerged as a focus. “I was searching for a way to build with clay that felt more fluid and intuitive,” she tells Colossal. “When I started using piping bags, I loved the immediacy and texture—it felt like drawing in space.”
Some of the works shown here are included in Russell’s current solo exhibition, Frivolous, at Martin Browne Contemporary in Sydney, which continues through June 21. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram. (via PAN)
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