Alice Watkins: From Kitchen to Kiln

Pop-Up Exhibition 18 Oct – 12 Nov

Alice Watkins creates ceramics using foraged clays and kitchen waste from the hospitality industry in Bristol. What might otherwise be thrown away is transformed into functional, beautiful objects that reflect their place of origin. Displayed within our current exhibition, Celebrating Post-War Design in Britain, this pop-up invites you to consider how the post-war ethos of ‘Make-do and Mend’, resonates with contemporary ideas around sustainability and environmentalism.

After three years working closely within restaurants, Alice began developing alternatives to conventional, mined ceramic materials, experimenting with waste byproducts that contain the same chemical compounds. She has since created a series of glazes made entirely from kitchen waste and developed adaptable clay blends that can incorporate locally sourced or salvaged materials, from restaurant gardens to construction sites.

Working from her Bristol studio, powered by 100% renewable energy, Alice embraces a regenerative design process that closes the loop between kitchens and ceramics, turning waste into function and reimagining sustainable craft for today.

Want to learn more? Join Alice for a two-hour, hands-on workshop on 6 November, where you’ll explore her processes up close, shaping your own wild clay incense holder and decorating a terracotta tile using underglaze techniques. No experience necessary!