Ruth Borgenicht, a New Jersey-based artist and educator, transforms ceramic rings into elaborate chainmail sculptures. Inspired by her university days in mathematics, she now uses clay to explore geometry and nature’s intricate patterns.
Her works hang like tapestries or unfurl into biomorphic forms, mimicking the long, multi-legged bodies of centipedes. At the upcoming exhibition at NL=US Art in Rotterdam, Borgenicht plans to incorporate 3D printing, reflecting on how small decisions can ripple through global systems.
Mathematics provides a structural foundation for her work, but it’s the handmade touch that brings each piece to life. 'Clay records every touch and gesture,' she notes, highlighting its unique properties compared to rigid mathematical constructs.
Forty years after visiting Philadelphia Museum of Art’s medieval exhibition space, Borgenicht’s curiosity led her to experiment with making moveable mesh from clay—a challenging yet fascinating endeavor in the world of ceramics.







