[ad_1] By marrying the realistic with the fantastical and uncanny, Stephanie Temma Hier conjures tension: there’s a calf-hair necktie that morphs into a table fan, popcorn surrounding pink ballet shoes, and a rapt snake framed by orange igneous rocks. The Brooklyn-based artist is formally trained as a painter and self-taught as a ceramicist, and she […]
Shae Bishop Bucks Cowboy Traditions with Floral Ceramic Garm…
[ad_1] Ceramics and textiles share several traditions. Both media have long occupied the realm of craft, are often functional, and tend to be tied to narrative and storytelling, whether sharing in family lore or communicating something about their owner. For Shae Bishop, combining the two offers a way to tether the enduring and universal with […]
Xanthe Summers Weaves Themes of Labor and Visibility in Bold…
[ad_1] “Clay is an incredible medium to hold narrative,” says Xanthe Summers, who turns to the medium as a way to explore themes around domesticity, craft, and so-called “women’s work” like cleaning, mending, working with textiles, and caregiving. When it comes to clay, she says, “I think mostly I am invigorated by its ability to […]
Vibrant Patterns in Frances Priest’s Ceramics Emanate Histor…
[ad_1] In vibrant effusions of color, Frances Priest creates ceramic vessels, tiles, and sculptural forms that explore the possibilities of pattern. The Edinburgh-based artist’s interest in decorative motifs stems from a book she received as a child, The Grammar of Ornament by Owen Jones, originally published in 1856. Jones compiled elaborate documentation of decorative motifs […]
Dara Schuman’s Rhythmic Tiered Vessels Embrace Intuition — C…
[ad_1] Experimentation is a driving force in Dara Schuman’s ceramic practice. Out of her Chicago studio, the artist conjures striking geometric forms that appear stacked, ribbed, and almost architectonic. With an air of retro-futurism informed by mid-century modern style, her jewel-toned volumetric vessels don earthy yet bold glazes in deep reds, ochre, and smokey blue. […]
Amiee Byrne’s Realistic Ceramic Sculptures Underscore the Ch…
[ad_1] Australian artist Amiee Byrne is drawn to everyday objects that are “so normal, they’ve become invisible,” she says. Meticulously sculpting clay into life-sized representations of their counterparts, Byrne highlights the tender charm and understated significance of forgotten and discarded goods. Creating an accurate portrayal involves the conscientious embrace of imperfections and defects. Take, for […]
Announcing Joy Machine, a New Art Gallery in Chicago — Colos…
[ad_1] As Colossal prepares to turn 15 this year, we’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be part of a creative community. During the last decade and a half, we’ve spoken with thousands of artists, designers, and makers and cultivated a vast network of friends and colleagues around the globe. Publishing has […]
Naomi Peterson Channels a Sweet Tooth and Sense of Togethern…
[ad_1] Frosted sponge and overstuffed pies are just a few of the sweet treats Naomi Peterson crafts from clay. Her playful “cup-cakes” take confectionery as a starting point, adding layers reminiscent of fondant, ice cream scoops, berries, and sprinkles. Many of Peterson’s pieces are functional, incorporating lids or handles to be used as vessels or […]
Fantastical Totems Emerge from Clay in Yu Maeda’s Vibrant Sc…
[ad_1] “I enjoy the freedom of shaping clay directly with my hands… creating forms that express spontaneity,” says Yu Maeda. Based near Tokyo, the artist began experimenting with ceramics after a career focused on painting when he started transforming animals and imaginary beings into vibrant, lighthearted sculptures. Maeda is influenced by the bold lines and […]
Tomoya Sakai: Shaping Identity Through Ceramics
[ad_1] Shaping Beginnings: The Journey from Industry to Art Born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in 1989, Tomoya Sakai’s early years were spent working in an auto parts manufacturing plant. There, he honed his skills in metallic processing using a lathe. This period in his life was pivotal as it ignited his fascination with shaping materials, […]