Angela Hayes' sculptural practice originates in an extended study of the classical pouring vessel. Its constituent elements (lip, body, foot and handle) have evolved from wheel-thrown forms to contemporary, slab-made architectonic works, relinquishing the functional constraints of the vessel to become receptacles for the artist's own voice. Hand-formed slabs, defined by straight lines and unadorned planar surfaces, contrast light and shade to generate a tension in which stillness and dynamism coexist.

Her recent work extends this inquiry through a ceramic interpretation of the Leporello book binding, in which the freestanding folded forms double as bookends. Here, Hayes constructs a theatre in folded clay that frames the drama of literature yet to unfold.

The paper clay was hand-rolled into slabs and constructed according to triangular geometries, Hayes signature form. Custom-built kiln props support the structures during a low, slow firing, which minimises warping and stress to retain the straight edge. The surfaces are then hand-sanded and textured, and finished with clear quartz, a treatment that protects the work while maintaining its matte, paper-like character.