My work examines the relationship between humans and the objects we use, delving into the delicate balance between form and function. Through sculpture and everyday artifacts, I explore how ordinary objects – vessels, cloth, discarded materials – become objects of meaning that resonate far beyond their original purpose, carrying with them stories of history and transformation.
Through my hands – clay, paper mâché, woven fibers, and other materials are more than just mediums – they are the threads that stitch together the physical to the intangible. Each piece I create is both a reflection and an extension of the human experience, where traditional craft techniques meet conceptual inquiry.
Though these objects may seem static, they are alive with the potential for connection. They hold memories of sorrow, joy, and change – each curve, each fold, each frayed edge is a testament to a lived experience. Through them, I seek to trace the hidden contours of love, loss, transformation, and the inevitable passage of time.
With consideration of the relationships we form with the objects around us, the viewer is invited to consider how the things we make and use also carry with them the traces of our lives. In these objects, we find reflections of ourselves—quiet, enduring vessels that speak, not in words, but in the language of transformation.
Christine Orr (she/her/hers) b. 1993 is an interdisciplinary artist whose work weaves together the tactile realms of clay, fiber, paper-making, and poetry. Based in Richmond, Virginia, her practice is an ongoing exploration of how humans and objects co-evolve, shaping, and being shaped by one another. Through a deep engagement with material culture, she investigates the intimate connections between domestic and utilitarian items, considering not only their functional roles but also their metaphorical and symbolic resonances. By examining the substances from which objects are made, she uncovers layers of meaning and speaks to the quiet stories embedded in the materials we often overlook.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (2015) and a Master of Fine Arts in Craft/Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University (2021). As a professor of ceramics at both the University of Mary Washington and Virginia Commonwealth University, she continues to foster a dialogue between students and the physical world, guiding the next generation of artists in their explorations of craft and meaning.