Emma’s ceramic work is ethereal and strong, like her. Emma is a self-taught ceramicist working with relentless discipline, surrender and commitment to each piece. I’m endlessly bewildered by her work - each is entirely built by hand in coiling method with minimal tools and every piece takes several weeks to complete. Emma lives her life in tune with her work like poetry, committed to the earths rhythms and living in sync with the seasons. Here, she has shared a photo essay of her beautiful home and an inspiring account of the rituals she calls on.
Shannon
When you visit Emma, you’re welcomed by her beautifully curated living room. Emma’s styling skills have trained a disciplined eye for sourcing pieces second hand, new or making pieces to fulfil to vision - the pillows are by Emma’s mum.
If you’re feeling uninspired, how do you transform your energy?
A combination of solo walks near bodies of water, visiting local exhibitions, re-visiting works of my hero’s (Barbara Hepworth, Isamu Noguchi, Ruth Asawa, Constantin Brâncuși, Hans Arp) & camping trips to reconnect and realign.
What rituals do you have in place to take care of yourself?
Mornings are a big one for me so I start the day in the right frame of mind. During winter I was running along the coast (rain, hail and all) followed by a cold swim.This really helped overcome that lethargic, unmotivated energy Winter brings. In the evening, yoga a few times a week is a must, to settle my nervous system and to support my body as my work brings a lot of heavy lifting and bending.
Summer so far has been a big delve into Ayurveda & Dinacharya which has really shifted something in me. This looks something like Pranayama, Meditation & Yoga paired with a handful of daily routines suggested by my practitioner, followed by a swim in the ocean.
Food and what I consume is also a priority, eating proper meals at proper times and favouring nourishing food is paramount, or I get super irritable & lethargic.
Who has been an expansive influence to your career so far?
My partner Matt if I’m being honest, his dedication and endless exploration has been very inspiring to watch over the past 7 years. He very much introduced me to a daily practice and the benefits of a disciplined routine. I feel super lucky to have had support, encouragement and somebody to bounce ideas off when I first started my ceramic journey, and still to this day feel blessed to share this common ground with him.
How do you successfully get out the door on time?
I rarely do, lol. Again, morning routine & breakfast, water bottle full, snacks & lunch packed if I’m going out for the day, a little dab of my favorite oil to keep me grounded.
How do you manage boundaries with your phone or computer?
Rather than having instagram on my phone I’ve converted to using my laptop. It took a bit of time setting it all up, however this has made a huge difference to my phone use. Now when I go on instagram I’m sitting in my studio doing admin work, so it’s very much a tool for marketing rather than endless scrolling. I keep my phone on flight mode in the late evening & the first few hours of the morning, and try to keep my phone in my bag most of the day. This way, when I go to use it it’s a conscious decision, rather than it being on me at all times, or walking past it and mindlessly picking it up.
Emma & Matt’s bedroom, with a ceramic piece of hers holding garden lavender and Apron Top in Granola hanging like a picture.
How do you overcome feeling anxious, uncertain, or nervous?
Meditation has definitely helped me as of late, to watch my thoughts and breathing when things get a little out of control, it’s been nice to catch myself before spiraling.
A swim also helps me shift negative energy if it’s just one of those days or, lighting my favourite incense and listening back to Ambient Zone on RTR.
What are your rituals for sparking creativity?
When starting a new body of work I normally make up a visual document to print out and have on hand, to keep my original vision alive. This normally consists of rock formations, objects that bring a spark, textures, past artists who inspire me and little spontaneous drawings or cut-outs of shapes.
On a day to day basis it’s just getting in the studio, putting on some music and wedging a ball of clay.
Emma Lindegaard is an experienced Stylist & Ceramicist available for her signature long table gatherings and hand-built ceramic works. You can find her work here: