No. is run by Romy Northover, artist and ceramicist. Romy holds a BA in Fine Art from Goldsmiths, University of London and has spent time living and working in Hong Kong, Venice and Berlin before opening her studio at Togei Kyoshitsu in New York in 2012. Traditionally trained in European ceramics, Romy is currently using the Japanese techniques of Kinuneri, Tebineri and Rokuro. Her style is ancient future.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do. I’m Romy Northover of NO. I’m a ceramicist.
I grew up in the English countryside. At school I studied ceramics with a great teacher Celia Allen and went on to do a BA in Fine Art and Goldsmiths College London. I worked with visual arts/installation for ten years before shifting my focus back to ceramics when I moved to NYC. I work out of a studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
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How has living in Brooklyn, NY affected your work? I’m very sensitive to my surroundings so every situation I’m in affects my work New York is a powerful city; it’s vibrating, maddening and glorious. It’s a very buoyant time for my medium which is super great.
What kinds of things are influencing your work right now? An amalgamation of images, sounds, textures and daydreams.
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What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? 2015 is going to be very exciting! I’ve got a couple of great collaborations in the works, I’m going to be making more one of a kind commissions, using mixed media in my ceramics, developing a jewelry line and upping the scale big time!
I’m working on a couple of projects with one of my favourites, THE LINE. I love their vision and ethos, it’s an absolute dream come true to work with them.
I was part of the Rachel Comey ceramics bazaar in NYC. I love beautiful spaces, and clothes, so seeing ceramics in this context is really fun. I like the way lines blur a bit more these days, that there is freedom for all these things to cross over and nothing needs to be locked down.
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If you were a drink what drink would you be? Fizzy water…or tea
How did your interest in your work begin? I’m not sure exactly how and when. I can’t remember knowing what I wanted to do at a young age, other than I’ve always been a dreamer; I wanted to be left alone/be free! And I had to touch and make things…ceramics makes sense to me. It is the only thing in many ways. My mum always said I would be a ceramicist and mums are always right about that kind of thing you know!
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Who would you ideally like to collaborate with? People who have similar vision, with different talents. I love to collaborate with my brother Maxim Northover. He is a stop motion animator and we’ve made work together in the past. We have synergy; we don’t have to discuss too much. That’s the best!
How long have you lived in New York and what brought you there? I’ve lived in NYC for nearly five years. We were very ready to leave London, and my husband started a company in NY. I spent five months living in Berlin prior to NYC. Moving to NY was a culture shock for sure, and it moves at breakneck speed here. It’s not easy, but it’s a marvelous and rewarding city once you know what you want.
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What do you want a viewer to walk away with after experiencing your work? Oh no! Thinking about that paralyzed me for nearly ten years after art school!!! Haha!
I make what I want, and I find the closer I get to translating my experience, the more positive the reaction.
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What are you really excited about right now? Taking a break! It’s been a great year 2014. I’ve worked extraordinarily hard and some wild wild dreams have come true, but and I hadn’t seen my family since last Christmas which is not right for me. It’s great to be with them, and out of the city swirl for a little bit.
Right now I’m out in the Californian desert experiencing harsh lights and cold nights!
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Most embarrassing moment? I have an appalling memory and when I try and recall one in particular I draw blanks…. BUT embarrassing memories are the kind of things that harpoon you when you are walking along minding your own business!
What were you like in high school? Quiet. Distracted. Riding horses. Obsessing about my body!
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