ceramic artist

wilem cousins

‘I like to get good at certain tool boxes and then I like to play with them’

Bio

Wilem Cousins, he/him, 1993, based in Rotterdam

Medium

Wilem largely uses ceramics as his base material as it offers a huge range of interventions at almost every stage of the process.

Career

Went from music, to graphic design, to running a freelance business, to art school with no high school degree, to now.

Wilem’s (1993, United Kingdom) work is centered around intuition, rhythm, exploration, the interplay between control and spontaneity, texture, and the embrace of imperfections. When Wilem shapes his works, he’s intuitively exploring and embodying the research on creative processes and the physical and psychological states linked to these processes. His creations are characterized by meticulous attention to detail, texture, and a strong sense of freedom. The influence of improvisational music is palpable in his art, as reflected in the rhythm and subtle flaws that enhance his work. It highlights the importance of staying receptive to the opportunities that arise unexpectedly and by chance.

Wilem has already made a mark by participating in Dutch Design Week ‘23 & ‘21, and was on display at the Holy Art Gallery in London. 

Currently Wilem is on display at The Frozen Fountain with the group show 'Future Classics' and had both is own spot and in our group show last OBJECT Rotterdam 2024.

Alter house collection

ALTERATIONS VOL 1

Alterations vol. 1 is a collection of ceramics made exclusively for Alter house. It’s the first, hopefully, of many. The ceramic objects are iterations, or alterations, of one technique. Made in succession during an improvisational bout, and designed as a family, each individual piece embodies its own character while being undeniably related to the next. This allows the art collector some freedom of choice in creating their own family of objects, composing their own arrangements, and playing with functionality.

H&H FROM ‘CONCURRENTLY’ SERIES

Concurrently is an ever-evolving series of ceramic works that we create in tandem, typically working on two pieces at once. These pieces grow together and are shaped simultaneously during our making process, resulting in two objects that, while not necessarily intended to look like a duo, become aesthetically connected through the shared interventions. These interventions are decided in the moment, depending on how we feel that day, and are guided by the recurring themes of improvisation and intuition that underlie all of his work.