After a long break of many years when Shailja decided to come back to pottery as a vehicle of self-expression, it all became clear, she felt centred and whole. Working with powerful materials like Earth, fire, Air, and Water, together with the rhythm of throwing on the wheel connects her to a particular state of mind. The magic of clay inspires her to accept the imperfections in nature and embrace irregularities as a way of life. Being mindful of the moment, and creating art, is what makes her complete.

Shailja draws upon the traditions of ceramics from ancient civilizations such as the Inca, Mimosa, Japanese, Neolithic period etc cultivating new inventive techniques in shaping, glazing, and firing. Inspired by traditional vessels she tries to express a connection between people and nature and link the ancestral material (clay) and technique to the present day. The result is a body of work imbued with the beauty of imperfection and the ephemeral.

While growing up in India she was surrounded by a lot of handmade pottery - Surahi’s, Matki’s, Martabans -these organic works transcend into her practice as shapes, forms, and textures. The matt surfaces, neutral subtle palette of her work transports her to the forgotten land where weathering of buildings and objects was always evident and accepted.

Shailja’ s present work is a marriage of her spiritual self and clay. Ritual pottery is work that is functional and designed for ritualistic practices in life. Her work is shifting to suit the aesthetics and functional needs of folks who are like her: sensory and in search of creative and daily inspiration. The Tree of life as depicted by Mexicans somehow finds its way into her pottery through the handles that she makes. The tree of life to her symbolises personal individuality and unique beauty.

The vessels are built with several elements and each construction looks for its own balance. Her work borders between function and sculpture and she enjoys the fact that there is both in her practice. It is contemporary with an ancient feel and when placed in the right environment it adds harmony to the space.