Elena Murdock is a ceramic artist originating from Westerly, Rhode Island. She earned her BA in Studio Art with a concentration in Ceramics and minors in Marketing and Art History from Salve Regina University in 2025. Murdock has been included in exhibitions such as the Open Juried All Media Show at South County Art Association and the Juried Senior Exhibition at the Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery in Newport, Rhode Island. She also co-curated the Fashion & Longing: Gilded Age Dress in New England exhibition at the Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery. Her most recent work was exhibited at the Mariner Gallery in Newport Rhode Island May 2025.
BIO
The cultural and ritualistic significance of vessels drives my work. I explore the intersection of tradition and modernity by blending personal experience with historical reference, creating pieces that connect across time and culture. My creative practice centers on the concept of ritual, both in the function of the object and in the act of making itself.
Ritual, at its core, is a repeated act imbued with meaning. Whether it’s the daily act of sharing a drink, the meditative rhythm of the studio process, or the ceremonial role of displaying dishware, I treat each form as a participant in something larger. Through throwing, hand-building, trimming, firing, and glazing, I cultivate a studio practice grounded in repetition, patience, and intention. This process reflects the symbolic routines that shape our lives, making the creation of each piece a ritual in its own right.
My work is rooted in both function and form, influenced by historical designs and contemporary aesthetics. I investigate how utilitarian objects can transcend their practical use to become sacred through memory, symbolism, and storytelling. At times, I deliberately move beyond functionality to embrace experimentation, creating non-functional objects that invite new interpretations.
I primarily work with stoneware, drawn to its durability and versatility across various firing methods. While my practice is rooted in wheel-throwing, I have recently expanded into creating larger forms and exploring diverse surface design techniques. My approach to form is inherently architectural, emphasizing structure, balance, and the spatial presence of each piece.
Wood firing, one of the most ancient methods of firing ceramics, holds a special place in my practice. It embodies qualities such as endurance, trust, and shared labor. The resulting surfaces; marked by ash, carry the memory of the process and the contributions of those who participated.
Artist Statement
