A joyful ceramic collage about the cycle of life where flowers in full bloom dance around an abstracted skull object. This is a playful take on the vanitas genre in art where a memento mori (often a skull) is depicted amongst other still life objects such as flowers and butterflies as a reminder of the transience of life.

This artwork is hand made from glazed stoneware and then hand painted, with several pieces fired separately and then collaged together.

Measurements: 14 × 10 inches
This piece is unique.

Holly Wheatcroft’s ceramic collages offer a playful take on the still life genre where objects are anything but “still” as they break away and spill out of their frames. Glazed stoneware slabs and shapes are layered with art historical references and a focus on pattern and texture. The artist’s use of clay is a deliberate and contemporary choice to highlight pottery’s role throughout the ages as an enduring storytelling medium.