Maker of the Week - Michaela Gall

Michalea Gall is a ceramicist producing domestic ware in majolica, painted with oxides and mostly thrown. Folk and Islamic influences feature in her work.

One favourite living craft maker.

Christiane Fischer is a Brazilian jeweller, she uses raw chunks of stone like unpolished ruby- sliced it looks like a piece of pastrami- wonderful!

What was the last art/craft/design thing you purchased?

I bought a cup from Kaori Tatebayashi, it's ink black glazed stoneware, I almost bow to it.

At age 18 who influenced your style? Was there any individual who very much helped you on your way?
I was influenced by anything early and religious, icons, trecento painting, partly from the nun who taught us history of art at school then I went to live in Florence so it was all classical for a while.

What’s currently on your i-pod, cd player, tape recorder?
n/a or broken, but Radio 3 and if the kids interfere 1.

Where and what is your studio?
In a stable.

What is your favourite (art) website ?
No favourite just random trawls.

Surprising activity/hobby?
Singing with the hoover as my orchestra?

Do you have a good work/life balance? Are you able to switch off from art work?
I probably do more thinking about my work than transferring ideas. Everything is food for my work it's just a question of nailing it down.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
Tantalising

Do you think art and craft has any real importance?
Well if stone age (wo)man hadn't made rock gongs and adzes then I wouldn't be on a computer now.

What do think are crimes against good taste & decency in art/craft/design?
The benches at Charing Cross Station must rank pretty high, metal, slatted, like shards of ice in winter.