Decoration in early ceramic work stemmed from the abstraction of culturally significant symbols and motifs now serves as a record of cultural identity. Contemporarily, the role of decoration in our visual culture has been relegated; commonly artists view decoration not as an element of cultural significance but as a dispassionate method of image making. I will research the use of decoration in contemporary ceramics and in my studio work and what role decoration plays with regard to individual and cultural narrative by conducting a review of contemporary ceramic artists and examining their methods of making and use of decorative motifs in addition to utilizing a range of decorative elements within my own work and incorporating decorative motifs.