VIVIENNE IS SELF-TAUGHT AND ESTABLISHED HER FIRST STUDIO IN IRELAND IN 1979

Her porcelain is organic and delicate, creating a sense of complex harmony in form. Although she takes influence from her study of Chinese porcelains, her work is undoubtedly contemporary and unique. Her technique involves combining thrown and constructed elements and pushing the limitations of her material. While some of her pieces fulfill the functional purpose of a vessel, her work is truly appreciated purely in a sculptural context.

The excitement and challenge for me is to produce flowing harmonious forms from a process fraught with interruption. I try to factor in all the variables knowing that during drying, glazing and firing, the pieces will take on a life of their own, and that no two forms are ever the same.

Her ceramics are held by the National Museum of Ireland and the Ulster Museum collections. During her term, President Mary Robinson of Ireland acquired numerous works of Vivienne's for presentation to Heads of State, Ministers and Ambassadors. Among the receipients of these gifts were Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia and former US President Bill Clinton.

Further collections include:
York Museums Trust, UK
Leeds Museums and Galleries, UK
Southampton City Art Gallery, UK
Crafts Council of Ireland, Dublin
Limerick City Art Gallery, Ireland
Royal Household, Sweden
Irish Embassy, Berlin
Chaim Hertoz - former President of Isreal
Jacques Chirac - former President, France
Alliance Capital, London
Rolex, London
Coutts Bank, London
Ford, UK

In a new developement to her practice, Vivienne has begun to cast her porcelain in Bronze.

Vivenne Foley Porcelain, a comprehensive survey of her work was published in November 2007. Containing 140 pages with 100 illustrations, the book includes a foreword by Audrey Whitty, Head of Collections and Learning at the National Museum of Ireland. Prior to 2019, Audrey was Curator of Ceramics, Glass and Asian Collections at the same institution.

Prices for Vivienne's ceramics range from £500 - £5,000. For availability, please contact us.