If you’ve ever wanted to eat a piece of art, Ebony Russell’s ceramic vessels might be the closest you’ll get. The Australian artist creates stunning clay vessels that look like they’ve been piped with cake icing—colorful, intricate, and almost good enough to eat. Using actual cake-decorating tools, Russell transforms clay into textured works that feel joyful, playful, and deeply personal.
At first glance, her work feels like it belongs in a bakery window. But look closer, and you’ll notice there’s much more going on. For Russell, these clay vessels are more than just eye candy. They’re containers of memory, emotion, and reflection. “I’m interested in how material can carry emotion and presence,” she explains. Each piece begins with a personal experience and then evolves into something that invites the viewer to connect with their own memories and feelings.
Russell’s journey into this sweet-looking world began with an interest in traditional cake decorations—think ballerina and bride-and-groom toppers. But over time, it wasn’t the figures that caught her attention, it was the icing. She started experimenting with piping bags filled with clay instead of frosting, and it clicked. “I loved the immediacy and texture—it felt like drawing in space,” she says. And just like that, her signature style was born.
Her clay vessels now span a rainbow of colors and patterns, layered with detail and emotion. They blur the line between decoration and sculpture, baking and ceramics. They’re whimsical, but never shallow.
You can explore more of Ebony Russell’s work on her website or follow her process and creations on Instagram. Her work is a delicious reminder that even the most delicate materials—like clay or cake icing—can hold powerful emotions and stories.