The histories of queerness have been largely invisible and hidden, sometimes by design. To create future relics from my own queer experience is to make that history tangible – to provide concrete (ceramic) evidence of a queer world that once existed and will always exist. “FANCY PRONK (The Queer Transcendence of Rotting Fruit)” uses the visual vein of 16th century Flemish and Dutch still life paintings to subvert classical symbolism reflecting queer identity, material culture, and class.

The juxtaposition of future queer ideas and symbols, with “roots” of my past, allow the pieces to enter into conversation with each other and evoke the relationship between pop culture, nostalgia, and how queerness offers a particular perspective on these threads.

This body of work is atmospherically fired using reactive colorants in the clay body: clay as glaze. The colors change, melt, crystallize and invert during the firing that have singular results. This process is meant to reflect resilience and change, but also solidity, in the shifting world queer and trans people inhabit.

Artist Statement

Etty Anderson is a multi disciplinary queer artist whose main focus is ceramic arts. They have shown in both North America and Europe, most recently in Paris for the Craft Biennale in 2023. Etty is a finalist for the 2025 Winifred Shantz Award. In 2024, Etty curated and led “Queering Dirt”, a queer focused residency at Watershed in Maine. They have been the recipient of Canada Council for the Arts grants, MMAQ and SODEC funding. As part of a relational practice, Etty runs an underground supper club spanning almost two decades and both coasts of North America. They have published a book of recipes inspired by this work (Vegan Secret Supper, Arsenal Pulp Press 2013). Etty is a non binary trans, white Canadian settler. They live and work in Tiohtià:ke Quebec, though presently, are the year long Artist in Residence at Medalta in Medicine Hat, Treaty 7.

See Etty Anderon on Instagram or their website.