A natural geode may look unremarkable from the outside, yet reveal an unexpected crystalline interior when opened. This encounter between an outer shell and hidden depth informs my geode sculptures in ceramic and glass.
In this series, I treat the opening as a space in its own right. It does more than mark a missing part of a form: it gives access to another landscape, made of texture, colour and light.
Sculpted interiors, not natural mineral specimens
The cavities in these sculptures are not natural stones inserted into vessels. I compose them in the studio using tinted glass, exploring transparency and depth that change with the lighting. Some sit within ceramic forms; other works in the collection are conceived entirely in glass.
What interests me about a geode is the act of discovery. The eye first encounters a surface, then pauses at an opening before entering the material visually. The interior begins to hold as much presence as the outer silhouette.
The role of kintsugi in the composition
In selected works, fractures are extended through traditional kintsugi using natural urushi lacquer and pure 24-karat gold. The gold follows the break and connects the ceramic surface to the glass cavity. It draws attention to the rupture without recreating the appearance of an unbroken surface.
Not every geode uses the same materials or processes. Each sculpture finds its own balance between form, opening, colour and light. My experience as a restorer informs this work, while sculpture allows me to shift its purpose towards creating a new artwork.
Three sculptures, three interior landscapes
In Motion within Stillness (Mobilis in immobile), a red ceramic vase measuring 70 cm, approximately 27.6 inches, opens onto violet glass. The density of its outer form contrasts with the movement that light creates within the cavity.
Subterranean Light (Clarté souterraine) brings together green and brown ceramic with white, translucent glass. Light seems to emerge from an earthy material, as though it had been held within the form.
In Inner Fault (Faille intérieure), the black surface intensifies a fuchsia cavity. The opening becomes the centre of the sculpture, with gold lines extending its movement.
These three pieces share a field of exploration, but none serves as a repeatable template. Each develops a different relationship between what is immediately visible and what gradually comes into view.
Artworks that invite a changing viewpoint
The appearance of the glass depends on the viewer’s position, the depth of the opening and the direction of the light. A detail visible from the front may disappear as you move, giving way to another texture. This shifting experience is something I seek to preserve in every sculpture.
Private viewings can be arranged at my studio in Meaux, France, or by video appointment. You can request a presentation through the page of the artwork that interests you.
Explore the geode sculpture collection to discover the works currently presented.
