This gentle ceramic work by Anna Riess takes the form of a single breast—simple, rounded, and quietly powerful. The nipple, finished with a delicate gold glaze, adds a touch of warmth and dignity. Whether placed on a desk as a Briefbeschwerer, held in the hand as a tactile comfort object, or mounted on the wall, the piece serves as a quiet reminder of the role of care in our lives.

It speaks not only to motherhood in a literal sense, but to the broader act of mothering—the often unseen, undervalued labor of tending, holding, and sustaining. Whether caring for others or for oneself, this work honors the importance of emotional labor and the need for softness in a world that often overlooks it.

Subtle and grounding, ‘Plum or boob’ invites us to pause, reflect, and remember the strength in tenderness—and the collective value of care in a society that too often treats it as secondary.

Anna Riess is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural anthropologist based in Vienna. Her work explores themes of embodiment, emotion, and interbodily relations through materials like clay, metal, and textiles. Deeply influenced by her experience of motherhood, she transforms everyday objects into symbolic forms - one of her gestures she describes as the “nippelization of the everyday.”

Riess is the co-founder of the Clayground retreat and the creator of Circle of Clay, a workshop series she has led at institutions such as the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna or the Hotel Kai36 in Graz. Her workshops invite participants—regardless of prior experience—to develop their own sculptural language through hands-on engagement with clay.

Her sculptural objects possess a strong visual identity and tactile presence, marked by a recognizable aesthetic and a willingness to push the boundaries of material behavior. Especially drawn to the tactility of clay, Riess explores how movement and fluidity can be captured in form—leaving the trace of the hand visible in its hardened state. With a strong interest in local materials and interdisciplinary exchange, her practice bridges artistic, social, and ecological concerns in both conceptual and applied ways.