The Whimsical Wonders Of Marla Benton

Evolution of a spirited Nova Scotian ceramicist and student of life.

Mark Raynes Roberts

I’ve always enjoyed ceramics and the variety of work that can be created in clay.

Sarah and I were fortunate to live very close to the ‘jewel box’ that is the Gardiner Museum, in Toronto, which houses the extraordinary George and Helen Gardiner Collection first donated by the couple in 1984. It’s a world-class collection of the finest china and porcelain.

Over the years, I’ve come to know some extremely talented ceramic artists, and was delighted to meet local artist Marla Benton, not long after our arrival in Chester. Marla had an exhibition of her ceramic work at the Chester Arts Centre in the summer of 2023, and I fell in love with her numerous whimsical designs which capture the essence of the east coast and the places she has traveled.

This commissioned centerpiece was created by Nova Scotian ceramicist Marla Benton. It consists of several bird vases that fit together as one art piece but can equally be separated into smaller groupings. Private Collection

Based in Mahone Bay, Marla is one of Canada’s leading ceramicists whose colourful works are collected across Canada and internationally. Having devoted herself to her craft for over 25 years, her sculptural and functional pieces are all one-of-a-kind creations.

Marla standing alongside one of her larger hanging wall installations of ceramic mackerel.

Educated at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the Ontario College of Art and Design (BFA) and Nipissing University (BED), Marla has been a full-time artist and teacher for many years, working as far away as the Yukon, Northern Quebec, and Ontario, before finally calling home Nova Scotia. I was surprised to find out how many times Marla had traveled across the country, both for work and to simply experience the everchanging tapestry of Canada.

Some of the original designs created by Marla combine both function and the sculptural. Whether the object is a vase, bowl or platter, there is beauty in how it can be viewed simply as art.

Travel experiences exposed Marla to a wide variety of artistic mediums but it was always ceramics with its practical and playful applications that spoke to her most. It’s evident in Marla’s understanding of colour; her monochromatic themes provide a soothing elegance to her work.

Palette is so integral to her designs that she will often make sample glaze plates to ensure the combination of coloured glazes is harmonious prior to firing the final work. This attention to detail underscores Marla’s commitment to excellence.

You can almost hear the sound of the four seagulls in this wonderfully designed vase, which incorporates beaks that hold the irises. Private Collection

Born in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario in 1977, Marla grew up in Waterloo, and later Conestogo, where her parents still reside. She first moved to Chester, Nova Scotia, in 2006, before moving finally to Mahone Bay in 2008 with her husband Eric, and daughter Juniper. Marla’s brightly lit studio is conveniently located next to her home - an easy early morning commute!

I greatly respect Marla’s practical nature as a working artist who knew she couldn’t rely solely on selling one’s own art. She studied for her Bachelor of Education to support her future in teaching all levels of grades at school along with adult courses at various art schools. Creating functional design work for the home also created the stability to grow and develop as a potter and artist. More recently as her work has found its appreciative audience, Marla is often commissioned to create more challenging and rewarding art installations for both corporations and institutions such as hospitals and municipal buildings.

“ I find beauty everyday, life is short and I feel very fortunate to have a beautiful studio and be able to live and work in rural Nova Scotia by the ocean” Marla Benton.

Travel has been an integral part of Marla’s evolution as an artist. After graduating from NSCAD in 2001, she drove alone across Canada to the Yukon, a place that has a deep spiritual connection for her. In 2004, after graduating from Nipissing University, North Bay, (with her Bachelor of Education) she embarked on another road trip this time on a motorbike, navigating the whole of North America covering thousands of miles from California to Mexico and back.

When not creating her original ceramic art for such prestigious venues as the Gardiner Museum in Toronto, Marla can often be found paddling kayaks with her family in some of Canada’s most beautiful natural locations. I imagine that might be the inspiration for her next collection of designs.

Marla, with husband Eric and daughter Juniper, enjoying Father’s Day paddling around the Lahave Islands near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

An artist residency in British Columbia in 2024 resulted in Marla’s latest solo exhibition. She is currently exploring larger installation works involving light and shadows.

On meeting Marla at her studio, her warm personality shines through, so it comes as no surprise that she has garnered an appreciative audience of collectors, some of whom have become friends. These relationships are born from trust in an artist who is forever pushing boundaries, teaching and learning.

One of Marla’s larger installations of seagulls plays with illumination and shadows.

For more information: www.marlabenton.com Instagram: @marlabenton

Hope you enjoyed the read, and will return with Sarah’s Substack on July 15th.

Best as always, and enjoy your summer!

Mark