KYRA CANE — CHALLENGING TERRAIN

Kyra Cane's way of making is to observe and seek understanding of the ceramic materials and processes she uses. She uses clay to explore how the climate crisis is causing the weather and seasons to become increasingly extreme. Using porcelain, her experimental thrown vessels expose the fragility of ever-changing landscapes.

For Award 2025, Kyra embraced what happens when you impose unacceptable conditions on ceramic structures. A precarious collection of related forms — ranging from flawless to distorted and damaged — demonstrates the impact of abusing inherently beautiful structures. The project began with a trip to the Isle of Skye, where she found a new car park for a hundred vehicles built on what had previously been heather moorland at the Quiraing.