Françoise Jeffrey, a designer based in Amsterdam, began her artistic journey a year after her mother’s passing. She felt a deep need not only to process her grief but also to reconnect with her inner self. To do so, she fully stepped away from her corporate life and slowed down, taking a sabbatical. Clay became her guide, allowing for intuitive expression through hand-built sculptures, reflecting this self-care journey. 

Perfectly imperfect
Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi and her mother’s courageous choices in life—especially her ability to care for herself by always following her intuition—Françoise keeps her pieces as pure as possible. Perfectly imperfect. Just like life itself. Translated into organic shapes, sometimes daring compositions, and a conscious avoidance of toxic glazes. Even the names of her works embody this approach: each name begins with Modder—an ode to her mother and a reference to ‘mud’ in Dutch, symbolizing the essence of clay, not without reason two sources of life. Each title ends with personal insights or struggles she faces in her ongoing self-care journey.

Loving encouragements
Over the years, Françoise has come to understand that reconnecting with one’s true inner nature is hard—but the only way to create real value, not only for oneself but for others too. She hopes her sculptures serve as loving little encouragements for others to prioritize self-care—mentally, spiritually, intuitively. Just as her mother did. Just as she tries to do, every single day.

Bronze
In 2024, Françoise expanded her artistic expression by introducing bronze into her practice.