Rose Schmits

Rose Schmits is a Dutch London-based ceramic artist whose practice is shaped by her identity as a trans woman and the rich pottery heritage of her hometown.

Her work reimagines traditional ceramics through a bold, contemporary lens. In her distinctive series, porcelain vessels appear to sprout delicate legs and tentacle-like forms, as if poised to move. These animated pieces explore the fluidity, diversity, and transformation of bodies, while challenging conventional approaches to ceramic making.

Rose’s studio at Oxo Tower Wharf is an open, visible workspace where both process and finished pieces are part of the experience. With her wheel set by the window, she brings the act of making into view - inviting visitors into the craft and its evolution.

At the heart of her practice is a spirit of experimentation. As she describes it, her work “misbehaves” - each piece pushing against expectations of form and function. Whether through unexpected structures or the inclusion of text reflecting contemporary themes, her ceramics question what vessels can be and do. Her Crawler Pots encapsulate this approach: sculptural forms that seem alive, balancing on spindly legs and defying gravity.

Straddling the space between fine art and craft, Rose’s work celebrates the possibility of breaking rules - and finding new meaning in the process.

Rose was also part of Channel 4’s The Great Pottery Throw Down (Series 4), where she worked as the studio technician.