Janice Cormier is French Canadian ceramic artist whose practice is informed by a deep connection to the landscape. Her work speaks of time, place and relationship with the earth. In her creative process, she collects wild clay, minerals, or other natural materials that she often integrates into her pieces. Her sculptural works echo the natural landscape elements from the places she has called Home – Atlantic Canada, Northern California, and Québec.
Janice’s passion for clay emerged after completing her academic studies in sciences and psychology, fields that continue to influence her artistic exploration of themes related to humanity and nature. This transition to clay felt like a natural evolution, inspired by her long- standing love of the outdoors and her fascination with the natural world. Largely self-taught, Janice refined her skills through mentorships and workshops with established ceramic artists while living in California. Her work has since been featured in gallery exhibitions and juried art shows in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. Originally from the East Coast, Janice now creates from her studio in Montreal.
There is something visceral about working with my hands in clay. This human practice of shaping the earth with our hands has been around for thousands of years—perhaps because it reminds us of who we are, why we are here, or that we are part of Nature. Through my work, I am interested in exploring themes of humanity and nature: connection, compassion, emotional memory, and our sense of belonging to nature and place.
A part of my creative process involves researching and experimenting with foraged materials such as clay, rocks, shells, and wood ash, gathered from places that hold personal meaning. These natural elements, each shaped by specific landscapes and histories, fascinate me for the way they hold the Earth’s memories and stories. I see a connection between these materials and our own lives —just as cliffs, fossils, and clay bear the imprints of time, so too are we shaped and marked by our experiences and environments. My work seeks to express this shared relationship with the natural world.
I approach each piece slowly and intuitively, using coils and slabs of clay to explore the interplay between form and space, absence and presence. The surfaces of my work often feature naked clay, sometimes enhanced by slip or natural inclusions. This deliberate choice emphasizes the tactile quality and fosters a connection to the materials themselves. Each piece becomes a tangible expression of time, memory and place, inviting viewers to engage with the stories embedded within.