Chloe Monks

Chloe Monks is a Bristol-based contemporary ceramic artist focusing on glaze and education. Monks’ upbringing involved moving around the UK, the US, and Europe before settling in the UK for higher education. She received her Foundation Diploma in Art and Design from Falmouth University, which led her to pursue a Bachelor’s in Ceramics at Cardiff School of Art and Design, where she graduated with First-Class honours. Following graduation, Monks worked as a glaze technician and designer with a raw materials company in Stoke-on-Trent, collaborating with clients such as Johnsons Tiles and British Ceramic Tile.

Shortly after her time in Stoke, Monks undertook a self-funded 4-month trip to India to collaborate with ceramic artists in various regions, including Vineet Kacker in New Dehli, Studio Potters at Kalaghoda in Mumbai, and at Art Ichol in Maihar. This journey helped Monks refine her artistic direction in ceramics, leading her to successfully apply to the Master’s Ceramics & Glass program at the Royal College of Art. During her MA, Monks focused on exploring the alchemical possibilities of glaze and its application as a sculptural medium rather than a decorative surface. Despite disruptions caused by COVID-19 in her final year, Monks graduated with distinction for her dissertation about phenomenological understanding through material-based practice.

Throughout her studies, and since, Monks has been recognised for her distinct approach to research through practice; Monks has participated in residencies at Ryall Hill in Worcestershire, the Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute in Jingdezhen, and North London Collegiate in London. She has received several scholarships supporting her work and education, including the Grocers Bursary, Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, and Craft Potters Charitable Trust. Monks was awarded Future Light of Ceramics in 2020 and accepted as a Royal Sculptor Society member in 2023.

Moreover, Monks has taught ceramics and glaze techniques at various institutions and studios and has given professional artist talks at Sidcot School, North London Collegiate, Bedminster Down School, Camden Arts Centre, and Clay Shed. From 2023 to 2024, she pursued her PGCert in Creative Education. She completed her teaching placement in the Ceramics Department of Cardiff School of Art and Design, Cardiff Metropolitan University. Alongside her artistic practice, Monks has presented at several conferences and contributed to journals focusing on educational formats and pedagogical theories, exploring the contemporary symbiosis between accredited and non-accredited education within the craft sector. Despite program closures, she continues to collaborate with institutions and private educators to advance learning opportunities in ceramics and glass.

In addition to her teaching and residencies, Monks has exhibited her work nationally and internationally at prestigious exhibitions such as Collect at Somerset House (UK, 2024), Disruption / Direction at Centre Space Gallery (UK, 2023), Artefact at Chelsea Design Centre (UK, 2022), Fresh at the British Ceramics Biennale (UK, 2021), 40 CICA (Spain, 2020), and Across Borders (China, 2019).

Visit Chloe Monks’ website and Instagram page.