Photography by Richard Ivey

Hosted at Yorkton Workshops, Alchemy brought together the work of ceramic artist Alison Lousada and painter Elle Jackson. Though working in different mediums, both artists explore surface, process, and imperfection as essential to their practice.

Alison Lousada

Alison Lousada is a British ceramicist whose distinctive vessels combine stoneware, porcelain, and volcanic materials. Her forms are often hand-built or wheel-thrown and undergo multiple firings, resulting in textured, cracked, and blistered surfaces. Her use of volcanic engobes, lava stone, and chemical alchemy in the kiln is central to her approach — making each piece unpredictable, deeply tactile, and intentionally imperfect.

We caught up with Alison for a POP-ID debrief following the exhibition, in which she shared insights for emerging artists, her creative process alongside Elle’s, and the evolving art world. Explore her thoughts:

How do events and exhibitions contribute to your artistic growth and push your creative boundaries?

Often, there is a theme or collaborative aspect to an exhibition or event that can create new ways of working within one’s practice. In the case of the Yorkton workshop exhibition with Elle, her use of colour pushed me to use more colour in my own work than ever before. We felt it was important that the work speak to each other collaboratively. Equally, Elle used various types of my clay within her painting practice.

How do you see craftsmanship and experimental processes evolving in the ceramics world today?

The advancement of social media has played a huge role within the realms of craft and particularly in ceramics. The popularity of it means that more and more materials seem to become available, and the community is ever-growing globally. This means the passing on of advice, recipes, and teachings allows greater depth of experimentation. It also pushes you to keep moving forward. I also think that the past distinctions of ‘Art’ now embrace the craft community.

What advice would you give to artists looking to build meaningful community around their practice today?

Find your voice in your talent and stick with it. Of course, do all the social things and talk to as many people as possible. Open calls are helpful as is getting work shot really well and trying to see it in gallery spaces – it helps you see your work differently. Be self-critical but not to the point of this affecting progress. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, in terms of ceramics, there are many ‘rules’, but often the breaking of them can create new and exciting pieces.

Elle Jackson

Elle Jackson is a London-based artist working at the edge of painting, textiles, and natural material practice. Her work is influenced by ecological cycles, foraging, and the connection between land and body. Her paintings are marked by layered removal, erosion, and the inclusion of organic materials. Through this process, Jackson creates abstracted works that embody cycles of growth and decay.

About the Venue

Located in Hackney, Yorkton Workshops is a gallery and event space designed for exhibitions, talks, and creative production. As a newly partnered FoundPop venue, it aligns with our mission to support emerging artists, thoughtful design, and community-focused exhibitions.

FoundPop champions design-led, sustainable exhibition spaces for artists, curators, and creative producers. Interested in hosting your next show or event with us?

Follow along on Instagram via @alilousada and @ellejacksonstudio

Get started with our 3D Space Planner or send us your floor plan — we’ll help you get ready to launch. For more activation inspiration and expert tips, subscribe to POP-ID.