Ruth Borgenicht's Ceramic Chainmail Sculptures Blend Math and Clay

New Jersey-based artist and educator Ruth Borgenicht creates intricate chainmail sculptures from thousands of ceramic rings, merging her background in mathematics with the tactile nature of clay. After studying math in university, she turned to ceramics, finding that clay records every touch and gesture, unlike the rigid paths of mathematics. Her wall-hung and tabletop works range from basket-like vessels to biomorphic forms like the Centipedes series. Inspired by a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art's medieval exhibition nearly four decades ago, she began experimenting with movable mesh in clay. Borgenicht is preparing for an exhibition at NL=US Art in Rotterdam, opening February 2027, which will incorporate 3D printing. She reflects on how small decisions ripple through interconnected systems, a theme influencing her new work.