Theaster Gates: A Clay Sermon

Fascinating exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery of work by the contemporary artist Theaster Gates.

I confess I didn’t know Gates work so I found the introduction boards really helpful. He mainly works in clay quoting Isiah 64:8 which likens God and humanity to a potter and his clay. Gates himself said “as a potter you learn how to shape the world”. He has founded the Rebuild Foundation to rejuvenate his neighbourhood in Chicago where he trains potters.

The show started with a historic display of ceramics from his Stony Island Arts Bank, many linked to colonialism and global trade, and including items made by Gates. I was particularly interested to see works by Dave the Potter, recognized as the first enslaved potter to inscribe his work. 

There was an excellent video of him talking about his work and clips of him working in his studio as well an inviting musicians in to play there.

The upstairs room showed new work, such as that pictured here, made during a residency in 2021 at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic  Arts founded by a brick manufacturer.

Closed 9 January 2022

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