“Everything created, either functional or decorative, has equal importance,
and the integrity of this thought is the driving force behind my daily practice as
a potter.”
“The work has a strong tactile quality, as does the natural world. I don't wish to imitate nature but aspire to echo the process of nature.”
‘I build up the surfaces of my pieces spontaneously, riffing on ideas of space, narrative and joy. I get to a point where I can push things a bit, hoping something exciting will happen – and sometimes it does.’
An exhibition of works to coincide with the launch of Adam Buick's new book 'Raw Earth'. Adam uses a single pure jar form as a canvas to map his observations from an ongoing study of his surroundings. He incorporates stone and locally dug clay into his work to create a narrative, one that conveys a unique sense of place. The unpredictable nature of each jar comes from the inclusions and their metamorphosis during firing. This individuality and tension between materials speaks of the human condition and how the landscape shapes us as individuals.
This exhibition profiles the works of seventeen esteemed makers, each of whom have recently been awarded Selected Member status by the Craft Potters Association.
Akiko Hirai makes largely functional ware using the Japanese tradition of allowing the clay itself to show the way in which it wants to be fired. She tries not to control her materials but to let them and the unpredictable environment of the kiln dictate much of the resulting shape and colour of her work.
Charles Bound ‘s work is unconsciously influenced by significant periods of time spent in the USA, Africa, and the UK. Loose and elemental, it reflects the rugged landscape of Wales, particularly of the farm environment where he lives and works today.
Adam Frew works in porcelain, creating thrown functional and large one-off pots. He revels in the spontaneity of throwing, the speed of production, seeking to reflect this energy in his distinctive mark making. These marks are continually evolving, but are always energetic and confident.
Adam works in contrasts: of lines or washes, glazed and unglazed, blues and oranges or reds and more recently, applied ridges. “A sense of energy has always been central to my work. Working with the clay in a way that is fluid and quick, and doesn’t require much reshaping.”
Twelve new members of the Craft Potters Association exhibit their inspiring work in this second group show of 2024. Expect to be impressed once more, by a selection of skilfully made sculptural, figurative, organic and functional forms.
Marina Bauguil, Daniel Chau, Moira Goodall, Björk Haraldsdóttir, Paul James, Jaeeun Kim, John MacKenzie, Ania Perkowska, Birgit Pohl, Amanda-Sue Rope, Jessica Thorn, Kate Windibank
“Central to my work is the concept of the vessel: creating associations with sharing, ritual and celebration, reminders of our humanity, our history and connection with nature.”
“I am wary of having a formula, thinking I have cracked the code… The feeling of satisfaction is surely my enemy. I need to stay focused on trying to create work that has real freedom in it, freedom from materials, method or mentality.”
“My making process is a daily repetition in a calm and quiet place. My work is a reflection of thoughts and sensibility in these moments of making.”
“Through my education, practice and persistence I have developed a unique method with an aim of utilising the versatility of clay to its potential.”
“We aim for perfection and celebrate imperfections as they can bring surprises and differences which help to keep our work and our relationship with it exciting.”
Our first exhibition of the year features inspiring work from an impressive sixteen newly selected members of the Craft Potters Association. Expect sculptural, functional, minimal and hugely detailed pieces, each made with unique but equally impressive precision and skill.
Peter Black, Katie Braida, Anthony Dix, Ant & Di Edmonds, Barbara Gittings, Diane Griffin, Robyn Hardyman, Kerry Hastings, Lise Herud Braten, Emma Lacey, Sue Mundy, Simon Olley, Laura Plant, Jane Sheppard, Elly Wall and Yusun Won.
As the festive season approaches, we are thrilled to present an inspiring selection of hand-picked and carefully curated works by many of our respected CPA members. We are privileged to be able to bring such a comprehensive, varied and covetable showcase to the gallery this Christmas and we are certain there will be something for all tastes to discover and take home.
Jill Fanshawe Kato’s ceramic forms are adorned with her distinctive imagery; of birds, animals, plants and small creatures, such as grasshoppers and shrimps. Meanwhile, Susan O’Byrne’s creatures are vehicles for the expression, distillation and embodiment of fundamental aspects of our humanity.
South Coast based Carolyn Genders is an internationally renowned ceramic artist, author and educator, recognized for her unique use of colour and surface. This newest body of work from Carolyn offers a bright and instinctive collection which is the direct response to a three month residency in France. Each piece denotes a new terrain and a time of joyous expression of colour and emotion through paint and brush, now extended into ceramic forms.
Centuries-old and steeped in cultural significance, the South Korean moon jar (dal hang-ari in Korean) hails from the late 14th century and the Joseon dynasty. Deceptively simple, often formed from two large rice bowls, placed together, the form itself offers an opportunity for much creative exploration. ‘Moonlight’ celebrates this ubiquitous form and the way in which ceramic artists have adopted and personalised this most iconic of jars.
Cambridge-based Katharina Klug has spent over 20 years developing her signature technique, in which she applies lines to porcelain pots using self-made wax sticks.
Lara’s relationship with colour has evolved from being shy about it, to exploring it more over time. She is an intuitive maker who works on multiple pieces at once. Her process is casting and decoration with a combination of marks including incised drawing and sgraffito through coloured underglaze.
Discover the unique and captivating world of Alasdair Neil and Sally MacDonell in their upcoming ceramic exhibition at Contemporary Ceramics.
Celebrating 45 years of exceptional ceramic artistry by Tim Andrews, a master of his craft.
"Dual Function" is a celebration of form and function in ceramic art, a captivating exhibition featuring the work of two distinguished ceramicists, Terry Bell-Hughes and Chris Keenan.
Explore the interplay between natural and man-made landscapes in the upcoming exhibition, 'Drawing Connections,' featuring the ceramics of Jane Cairns, Rachel Wood and the late Adela Powell.
Our “New Members” exhibition is packed with inspired works blurring the lines between art and craft. Showcasing something for each artistic taste; from the likes of Gail Altschuler, timeless simplicity by Jennifer Amon and Verity Howard’s sculptural pieces. The wide array of display also includes complex pieces from Timothy Copsey, red stone clay improvisational music inspired work of Julian King-Salter, domestic objects by Francis Lloyd-Jones balancing between looseness and definition, to a more contemporary storytelling through figurative ceramics by Craig Mitchell, and narrative visual fragments by Carolyn Tripp.
“Most of my work comes from everyday things… I consider what I can sense in everyday life while I am experimenting with ceramic materials and then I see what I can do with it.”
Peter Beard’s work has been exhibited around the world and is represented in numerous museums, public collections and private collections in the UK and overseas. The award winning artist has a contemplative approach to making and spends much of his time sketching out ideas for new pieces.
For this new exhibition, Jane Perryman is showing a group of hemispherical double walled bowls mixed with different organic and man-made materials collected randomly, each a metaphor for memory and words.
Using combinations of press moulding, coiling and slabbing processes before burnishing the surface, her pieces are then low fired and then refined with sandpaper followed by a higher temperature firing.
Based in Germany, Martin is an internationally acclaimed artist, with award winning pieces in museums and galleries all over the world.
Jack Doherty was born in Northern Ireland and studied Ceramics at the Ulster College of Art and Design, Belfast. New to his exhibition is a series of ‘Guardian Vessels’ with folded rims and drawn surfaces.
Let it Slip is a joint exhibition featuring the works of Prue Cooper, Hannah McAndrew, and Sean Miller as they celebrate their new slipware.
Ruth King trained at Camberwell in the mid 1970s and has been hand-building pots for over 40 years.
Sandy Brown’s internationally recognised, joyful and celebratory, work brings together form, colour and decoration to create playful paintings upon her ceramic pieces.
This exhibition features the work of six of the ceramicists featured in Stephen Murfitt’s book, Contemporary Raku.
Clive Bowen is one of Britain’s finest studio potters. He is internationally known and respected for his powerful yet intimate pieces, with his works widely exhibited in the UK and throughout Europe, North America and Japan.
Award-winning artist, Ashraf Hanna works with the vessel to explore relations between profile, line, and space. Using a process of handbuilding, and working with colour and texture, Hanna examines the juxtaposition of sharp lines and soft curves. Lines in Motion brings together a collection of new work with an emphasis on the bowl-form.
This group show features raw and tactile work by two accomplished makers who both use clay to express their responses to the land.
Anna Lambert presents a new collection of handbuilt earthenware ceramics evoking the power of place. Her works are three-dimensional paintings, in which considered forms merge with surface scenes of trees, field edges and orchards.
Ruthanne Tudball and Jeremy Steward each have longstanding careers in ceramics creating work that feels organic and holds an earthy authenticity. Jeremy wood fires and salt glazes his work while Ruthanne is renowned for her soda glaze firing, both resulting in rich, layered surfaces.
Bringing together the joy of colour with bold and creative shapes, this exhibition celebrates the versatility of clay as seen in expressive statement ceramics. The show features recent work by three high-profile makers.
Sue Hanna and Antonia Salmon are renowned for their sculptural abstract ceramics, both creating strong forms with dynamic smoke-fired surfaces. These works are displayed in high-profile collections across the UK and internationally.
Matthew Chambers is an internationally recognised ceramic artist creating mesmerising sculptures that draw the eye into the deepest depth of each piece.
Ashley Howard is an award winning ceramic artist and dedicated teacher creating porcelain vessels informed by Far-Eastern and homespun pottery traditions.
Our Christmas Gift Collection will change weekly, bringing together carefully chosen pieces by many of our most collectable artists each time, to highlight our broad range of handcrafted pieces perfect for presents.
This solo exhibition celebrates the work of Akiko Hirai featuring her practical and decorative ceramic ware. Her Japanese cultural background and aesthetics strongly influence this collection while each piece is also perfectly rooted in contemporary designs.
This solo exhibition features the work of Adam Frew, a potter based in rural Northern Ireland. Working in porcelain Adam creates thrown functional and large one-off pots with intricate, colourful, markings.
Sophie MacCarthy and Richard Phethean’s established careers have embraced bold decoration and a joyous approach to colour through the use of slip on their earthenware pieces. In this exhibition Sophie’s classic forms and intricate stencil decoration sit well together with Richard’s meticulous abstract designs on curious constructed shapes.
Lisa Hammond MBE, a pioneer of soda-glaze firing, combines strong uncomplicated forms with tactile surfaces.
Paul Philp unites refined classic forms with highly tactile surfaces to create pieces of strong individual identity.