Nicky Backlund has just graduated from a BA Ceramic Design course at Central Saint Martins. She decided to pursue her passion for the arts in 2019 after a long career in the entertainment industry. Transitioning from the corporate world, Nicky began her artistic journey by enrolling in the Art & Design foundation course at Working Men’s College in Camden, where she discovered her love for ceramics.

Afterward, Nicky joined the BA Ceramic Design program at Central Saint Martins, where she explored various forms, processes, and practices. Through her work, she identified a recurring theme of motherhood, reflecting her role as a mother of three. Often, our inspirations reflect aspects of ourselves.

Nicky enjoys creating both functional and decorative pieces and excelled in a project to design tableware for the Coal Office Restaurant in her second year. She received the top response to the brief from Tom Dixon himself. Her recent project, "Unseen Realities of Motherhood," was her first independent endeavor and was showcased at the Lethaby Gallery as part of a larger exhibition Baby-Change-Making initiated by students at CSM. This exhibition aimed to highlight the challenges faced by parents in higher education. The final pieces from this body of works were also shortlisted for the 2023 Evening Standard Art Prize and exhibited at an exclusive exhibition at the Cromwell Gallery.

Motherhood continued to be an area of focus during her final year, where Nicky explored ways in which to express moments of joy within clay. Incorporating family and friends into her research Nicky culminated with a celebratory setting that captured both her and others’ “Moments of Joy”.

Returning to school has been a rewarding experience for Nicky, and she looks forward to further exploring ceramic art and design by pursuing an MA in design starting this September.