Vessels
Julia Dlugosz
Vaults
22 September - 10 October 2026
A site-specific installation featuring ceramic work from the artist’s body of work ‘Past Forms, Present Lives’.
“My current body of work draws inspiration from Ancient Egyptian representations of everyday life. The vessels they created depict everything from simple activities to grand myths, which offer a unique insight into the past. This fascination led me to people watching and sketching the everyday to better understand modern-day routines. My practice explores the contrasts between past and present values, with my vessels honouring tradition while reflecting contemporary perspectives.
As my practice develops, I am expanding my inspirations to different periods throughout Egyptian history, looking more closely at the rituals and processes surrounding mummification. In particular, I have become interested in the sacred oils and balms used in the preservation process, and the significance they held within Ancient Egyptian culture. This has led me to explore new vessel forms inspired by ancient, intricate glass bottles. Their varied shapes, proportions and detailed surfaces have encouraged me to lean further into surface design, particularly through the use of sgraffito.
I am continuing to use the same crank terracotta clay and blue cobalt oxide throughout this new series, allowing the new forms and ideas to remain connected to my previous work. By maintaining these materials and colours, I hope the two series can blend naturally and ultimately become one larger body of work. The series will continue to expand over time, with the goal of creating multiple vessels in varying shapes and sizes that can exist individually while also working together as a larger collection.
By blending contemporary design with Ancient Egyptian imagery and processes, I create a dialogue between different periods of history while continuing to connect them to the present. This body of work is deeply personal to me as I aspire to connect people through the physicality of clay and the act of creating, envisioning myself as a part of this vast shared human experience.”
Julia Dlugosz is the 2025 recipient of the Cork Arts Society Vaults Award This new award gives a graduates of MTU Crawford College of Art & Design the opportunity to exhibit in the unique vault spaces at Lavit Gallery.