"Modder Slowing Down" Sculpture

The sculptural objects by Françoise Jeffrey are one-of-a-kind, hand-built pieces. Intuitively shaped, sometimes daringly balanced, and always imperfect. She consciously avoids glazes to preserve the clay’s natural purity. Which also offers the sustainable advantage of single-firing, while giving the pieces the earthy, timeless tones she aims for.

The artist feels deeply grateful that what began as a personal need unexpectedly grew into a profession. Her pieces now reach homes and hearts around the world, inviting people to pause, slow down, and remember to stay true to themselves. A journey she continues in her own practice with clay every day.

Two choices
Her practice is born from two profound choices. Six years ago, she chose to slow down completely during a sabbatical to care for herself. The year before, her mother chose to stay true to herself, by letting life go with dignity before Alzheimer fully took control. A choice she only could make with a full heart, as the artist witnessed.

Each piece honors this courage and the promise she made before her mother’s passing: to speak openly about her mother’s choice and keep the conversation alive about life’s “what ifs.” She considers her works ‘Conversation Pieces’, gentle voices for others too, reminding us that staying connected to ourselves is not a luxury but a necessity to not lose ourselves in this intrusive world.

Modder titles
The names of her works follow this intention. Every title begins with ‘Modder’: sounding like mother, and a direct reference to mud in Dutch, the essence of clay. The second part of the titles comes from her own inner world: insights or struggles, big and small, like honest little notes from a life lived with attention.

Mission
Through her pieces, Jeffrey wants to share a little extra love and courage to ask ourselves more often which choices we need to live the life our heart truly calls for, if we are completely honest with ourselves. The only way to fill our hearts and keep life beautiful. Until the very end.