A one-time banker, a college teacher and a former airline employee who took to pottery and clay art to strike a balance between passion and profession are showing their works at a city gallery.

All three started dabbling in pottery only a year ago and are exhibiting in a public gallery for the first time.

Faces displaying myriad emotions, decorative kettles, wall art and exhibits on nature are on display at Fuego Ensemble, a ceramic and sculpture exhibition, at The Harrington Street Arts Centre.

Shukti Singh Roy, 50, was a busy banker for 23 years. “One day I decided to leave it all and find my true calling,” said Singh Roy, who ended up dabbling in pottery under artist Ashish Chowdhury.

“Pottery gave me freedom and a new avenue to explore. Soon I was using art to communicate my views on social issues,” said the Golf Green resident who also works with children.

Her 22 exhibits are the result of three months of hard work and send out a message too. “I am against caging of birds and one of my pieces is a commentary on that. Another is about my take on two circus elephants Shirley and Jenny,” Singh Roy said. Her favourite is an artwork on the whale that was found dead in Davao Gulf, Philippines, after consuming 90 pounds of plastic waste.

Pooja Bhowmik, 29, is an assistant professor of commerce at St Xavier’s College (Autonomous) but art has always been her passion.

A once-a-week pottery class since March 2018 made Bhowmik yearn to balance teaching and clay art. “I create for happiness, not to sell,” the Behala resident said.

Bhowmik loves larger-than-life installations and her most striking exhibit is a 5ft by 6ft wall art on heritage conservation comprising nearly 90 figurines. “I had been working on it since last year,” she said.

Another wall art by Bhowmik focuses on bottled water and conservation. There is also a house made of wood and ceramic under construction with around 60 figurines at work. “Art acts as a stress buster,” the academic said.

For Sunita Arora, 62, art came at a time when she needed a confidence boost.

“I worked with Singapore Airlines for 15 years and then with The Akshar School for eight years. A cardiac bypass made me realise I could no longer work full-time,” said Arora, who started painting before moving on to pottery. “I have always loved statues, but never expected to make some myself. My classes with Ashish Chowdhury made me realise that dream,” she said.

Arora believes in art with a purpose. Her contribution of 10 faces can all be used as jars or plant pots. “Every face is different. They range from wicked to bewildered,” she said, pointing to a “wicked” man acing a card game.

Art, according to the trio, has been a life-changing experience. “We learnt how to balance passion with profession,” Singh Roy said.

The fourth artist at the exhibition is Susmita Basu. “I have been a ceramic artist for about three years and it feels wonderful to share space with fellow artists. I draw my inspiration from a variety of sources such as Sumerian gods and goddesses, tribal forms, Fauvist art and Picasso,” said the 58-year-old.

The exhibition is on till November 1.