We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Judy Robkin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Judy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I was commissioned to create 10 large pieces to be installed in a Memory Care unit of an Assisted Living facility. My pieces are hand-built, one-of-a-kind clay women, mostly elderly, often adorned with found objects which help to tell their story. Each of these special pieces was installed in an alcove at the beginning of a corridor and are being used as “guides” for the residents to find their way home. To have my art serve as both a memory prompt and a recognized friend give it tremendous purpose and meaning.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am fascinated by older women’s faces. Each wrinkled face tells a thousand stories. More often than not, older women go unnoticed in our society. The older they get, the more invisible they become. My work brings these women to life and helps them tell their stories.

My inspiration originally came from an encounter with an elderly woman selling her vegetables on a street in Croatia. She was dressed all in black, her head wrapped in a black scarf and her face weather beaten and solemn. My husband had learned a phrase or two in Croatian and used one with the woman. He looked at her, smiled and said “You are so beautiful” and suddenly her face lit up with a girlish grin. Those few words tickled her and she was immediately transformed into a coquettish teenager. (And luckily, I snapped a
“before” and “after” picture as proof!)

When I began making my series called “Ladies,” I thought back to this woman. I searched for a way to make the invisible seen. Each one of my hand-built clay pieces has a unique story and expression. My “Ladies” appear to have stepped out of the local marketplace, be it in Morocco, Italy or Greece. I use textures and objects collected from all over the world including Indian textile stamps, Middle-Eastern trinkets and Chinese jade to enhance the story that each piece tells. Revealing the personality that is hidden under the headdress or behind the shawl, I attempt to unearth the simple yet elegant woman emerging from the clay. Just as our lives are textured by time and experience, layered through joy, love, loss, and surprise and colored by world events and personal experience, so too are my “Ladies” – textured, layered and colored.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love connecting with my customers. When someone buys a “Lady,” it is usually after a long conversation between us. We have probably shared personal stories, found a common link, laughed and sometimes even cried, Because each “Lady” is unique, my customers are usually drawn to a single piece that they identify with or “recognize.” Often they are compelled to tell me a story about their mother, grandmother or an older aunt that they see in the piece. The story is told with love and warmth and a nostalgic feeling. When our transaction is finished, I always ask that they send me a picture of their piece in their home. I usually receive not only the photograph but a lengthy explanation of why they chose that particular spot and what it means to them. Each “lady” becomes a member of the family and is cherished as such.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Many non-creatives underestimate the amount of time that we put in to learn our craft. They do not see the hours and hours of struggle while we work out the kinks, fine tune the process, and finalize our product.

They undervalue handmade objects and equate a mug at a craft show to one they can buy at Walmart. They fail to recognize the sensation of a wheel thrown piece in their hands, how the cup handle fits their fingers and the glaze perfectly matches the piece.

Contact Info:

• Website: judyrobkin.com
• Instagram: @judyrobkin

Image Credits
Ori Salzberg