Wise Parliament 27 - Julie Smeros

18.5 x 18 x 3cm

Julie Smeros 

My ceramic practice draws inspiration from the storytelling traditions of ancient Greek pottery, reinterpreting mythological imagery through contemporary porcelain domestic ware. I am interested in how everyday objects can carry cultural memory, symbolism, and narrative into modern life. By combining refined modern forms with references to classical myths, my work creates a dialogue between past and present, ritual and routine. Each piece invites reflection on the enduring relevance of mythology and its connection to human experience today. Through porcelain, I explore how ancient stories continue to shape identity, emotion, and the objects we live with daily.

Wise Parliament, brings together a gathering of porcelain vessels featuring owl imagery inspired by ancient Greek pottery. In Greek mythology, the owl is closely associated with Athena, goddess of wisdom, embodying knowledge, insight, and quiet observation. Revered as a guardian and symbol of discernment, the owl has endured across cultures as an emblem of intelligence and reflection. Reimagined through contemporary domestic forms, these works invite viewers to consider how ancient symbols continue to shape our understanding of wisdom, identity, and the stories carried by the objects we live with every day.