These Artists Are Shaping the Future of Ceramics
- Eva Parker
- Jan 11, 2022
- 4 min read
For centuries, artists and craftsmen engaged in ceramics have been consistent contributors to the art world. From ancient prehistoric pottery and Greek amphoras to the emergence of porcelain in Asia and Europe and the impact of the Arts and Crafts movement in England and the United States, the allure of ceramics has deeply resonated with artists and influenced their creative endeavors. In the contemporary art scene, the pinnacle of ceramics' popularity arguably occurred in 2021.
During that year's Whitney Biennial, Sterling Ruby and Shio Kusaka prominently showcased their ceramic works. The de Purys organized a significant exhibition featuring leading ceramic artists at Venus Over Manhattan, and at major art fairs like Frieze and Art Basel, galleries incorporated pieces by Dan McCarthy, Takuro Kuwata, Rachel Kneebone, and Klara Kristalova, including figurative sculptures.
Within this context, older established artists such as Betty Woodman, Ken Price, Arlene Schechet, and Ron Nagle experienced a resurgence in their careers, while younger talents like Jesse Wine, Rose Eken, Elizabeth Jaeger, and Jennie Jieun Lee found a market for their creations. Although the ceramics trend has somewhat subsided since then, the enthusiasm for this medium remains strong, with artists working in ceramics maintaining a steady presence in the art world.
British ceramist Aaron Angell, who established a pottery studio in London in 2019 to teach fellow artists, emphasizes that ceramics have become more accessible, versatile, and less mysterious with each passing decade. He believes that fired clay should be recognized beyond its associations with utility, the craft world, or the exclusive practices of master potters.
Aaron Angell is not alone in this perspective. Numerous contemporary artists are reshaping how ceramics are perceived, ensuring that whether they take the form of functional vessels or expressive sculptures, this art form garners the respect and recognition it deserves. Among them is Alina Khalitova, a rising talent from Russia who received the prestigious CERINNO award, known for uncovering new talents in ceramics that incorporate technology. In the following sections, we present the work of contemporary ceramic artists, each sharing their profound passion for working with clay.
B. 1969, Spokane, Washington • Lives and works in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Porter Lara describes her relationship with clay as akin to a collaborator, explaining that she often doesn't end up where she initially intended because clay has its own ideas and guides her in unexpected directions. She enjoys the sensation of being led by the material. She collects clay from a location near Albuquerque, forms her vessels using coils, polishes them with a stone after the clay has dried, and then fires them in a pit in her front yard.
Her most recent conceptual pieces tackle the pervasive presence of plastic bottles, which she views as contemporary artifacts. These works are currently on display in a solo exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. The inspiration for this series came when Porter Lara encountered numerous two-liter bottles along the U.S.-Mexico border. At the outset, as she wasn't a ceramist, the vessels had a rather "organic" quality. This led her to explore the question of whether it's possible to distinguish between nature, humans, and technology. She is currently in the process of creating larger versions of these works for a solo exhibition at Peters Projects in Santa Fe later this autumn.
B. 1987, U.K. • Lives and works in London
"As an artist, you can be categorized as someone who prefers fluid, organic forms or someone who leans towards precise, straight lines," Spragg remarks. "I definitely fall into the category of someone who prefers fluid, organic shapes, and that's one of the reasons I choose to work with clay." Spragg specializes in creating clay installations and animations that aim to narrate intriguing stories. In her latest project, she has meticulously crafted porcelain tufts of grass, shaping each delicate blade by hand and affixing them to a base. In some instances, her partner Geoffrey Hagger constructs wooden viewing boxes to encase dioramas of plant life for her artworks. Notably, one of her pieces has recently been acquired by London's Victoria & Albert Museum. Spragg sees her creations as three-dimensional drawings rendered in clay. She is part of the artist collective Collective Matter, and together with her colleagues, they are presently collaborating on a Tate Exchange project. This project will culminate with a workshop on March 10th, allowing visitors on the fifth floor of the Switch House to engage in clay work.
B. 1984, Vancouver • Lives and works in New York
Ceramics constitute just one element of Goldberg's recent art installations, which are a response to the post-industrial world. Her work earned her solo exhibitions at SculptureCenter in Long Island City and the Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Bergamo last year, along with inclusion in the five-person "Mirror Cells" exhibition at the Whitney Museum. Her ceramics, characterized by their dark, metallic appearance, are frequently integrated into larger installations that address environmental concerns. In these installations, synthetic and natural materials blend together, and you can commonly find ceramics, steel, and wood coexisting with elements like snails, chia plants, and crude oil. In her previous pieces, she skillfully combined ceramic and steel to depict subjects like fish skeletons or containers of oil.
B. 1984, Kazakhstan • Lives and works in London
Alina, a London-based conceptual artist whose artistic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in History of Art and a passion for photography. Recently, she has ventured into a captivating fusion of mediums, combining ceramic ink and glass to create innovative and enduring artworks.
Ceramic ink, typically used in architecture and design, provides a lasting alternative to UV printing on glass, which can fade in just a few years if not stored properly. Alina's exploration of this technique led to her groundbreaking series, "Reflection," which unfolded in the cultural backdrop of St. Petersburg, a city steeped in artistic tradition.
In "Reflection," Alina seamlessly melds her art historical knowledge with contemporary technology, creating pieces that bridge the past and present.
As Alina continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression with ceramic ink on glass, her creations inspire and captivate. Her dedication to innovation solidifies her place as a rising star in the contemporary art world, reaffirming that art transcends time and welcomes the past into the boundless realm of the future.
Eva Parker is an artist and writer based in Glasgow.
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