The work of Callused explores the effects that Toxic Masculinity has had on me personally. Feeling the need to maintain a tough, callused exterior while expressing healthy emotions creates a unique paradox. This tension is conveyed in my work through contrasting forms, colors and textures that are in precarious situations, uncomfortable angles, and references to vulnerable parts of the body. Bodily references are a vital component to my work because I consider the ceramic forms to be representations of myself. Their blobby, structureless forms recreate the contradictory tension I feel about being callused yet sensitive. Decisions about form, surface treatment, and space highlight the awkwardness of each piece and, therefore, question comfort.