Cathy's Art Diary

Calm exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of new work by Adam Buick. The pieces were all the same satisfying shape in various sizes. Evidently, he incorporates stone and locally dug clay into his work which reminded me, as an idea, of a display I’d seen in another show earlier in the day by Kim Norton. I loved the very prefect shape of the work and the pale, textured glazes. Closed 29 March 2025

Beautiful exhibition at Contemporary Ceramics of new pieces by Matthew Chambers. These were mysterious layered works creating rounded sculptures. I really couldn’t work out how they’d been made so I loved not only their look but also their mystery. They were in lovely pale but unusual colours with a Matt finish.   Closed 27 April 2024  

Elegant exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of new work by Ashraf Hanna. These were vases with clean lines often with black or cream exteriors and contrasting bright interiors. A lot of them were egg shaped with their sides cut down in crisp straight lines and manipulated. Two of them looked like a woman’s torso. There was a wonderful bright yellow glaze which contrasted beautifully with the black and a lovely dark purple one. Closes 16 October 2021

Interesting exhibition of the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of new work by Anna Lambert. The show had two themes, changes in landscape due to climate change and the re-establishing of orchards around Britain. I loved the large pieces with landscapes on them in delicate shades and I was intrigued that they seemed to have raised bottoms to them, ie the bottom was higher inside that outside. My favourite was in a lovely purple glaze. There were some vivid yellow and green glazes on the inside of some of the work. There were also charming smaller pieces with springs of blossom and birds in them. Closed on 30 September 2017  

Nice exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of new work by Akiko Hirai. She explores the idea of the Japanese idea of “getemono” which means unpolished craft made in unrefined by unknown potters. The works were rather beautiful but with the look of misfires, with cracked surfaces and glazes which seem to have melted down the pot. I liked a series of seed pots with glazed centres and rough outsides. I also liked the clever series called still life bottles which seem to have come straight out of a picture by the 20th century still life artist   Morandi Closed   on 26 November 2016  

Nice exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of work by Susan O’Bryne and Ostinelli & Priest who both make sculptures of animals and birds in ceramic. I slightly preferred O’Bryne’s work which had both a realistic and a patchwork effect. I loved the small birds and had to fight the urge to buy one as I couldn’t work out where to put it! I wasn’t quite so convinced by the ones with wool hair! I also loved the life sized sheep in loved pastel colours. So real looking even though they look like they are wearing a patchwork coat. I did like Ostinelli & Priest too. Their work had a slightly rougher finish but I particularly liked their dogs which had wonderful expressions which showed a real knowledge of dogs!

Exhibition of pieces of contemporary ceramics in the CPA Auction displayed at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre. There were some lovely pieces in this show and I envy the lucky highest bidders. I loved Mary Rich’s lustre bowl in gold and blue, Matthew Chambers sculptural works of concentric circles and Svend Bayer’s functional cooking pots.  

Exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of new work by clay sculptor Mo Jupp. Most of the show was of small expressive female figures of just torsos and legs. These were standing and sitting and he captured the stance of woman beautifully. They reminded me in an odd way of Mondrian pictures. The other pieces were helmets of a cylindrical design. I was made a note that they were Ned Kelly like and later spotted that in the commentary. I found these less interesting and rather cold.

Lovely exhibition at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre of work by Halima Cassell. These ceramic works were very sculptural and are made by carving from a block of dry clay. There were interesting geometric patterns making plaques, bowls and vases. As they looked so tactile it was nice to be able to handle them and feel the clean lines but rough texture. I particularly liked a piece called Vaulted Keep, which was a round bowl shape with a deep square, flower like interior.

Nice exhibition of the work of five contemporary potters who have excelled at throwing pots on the wheel at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre. The artists were Lisa Hammond, Ashley Howard, David Jones, Dan Kelly and Phil Rogers. I particularly liked Phil Rogers chunky barrel and Lisa Hammonds great thick dripping glazes.

Exhibition of modern ceramics at the Contemporary Ceramics Centre , a new gallery to showcase the work of the Craft Potters Association. This exhibition included work from three artists Susan Disley, Andre Hess and Jane Perryman. There was due to be a third but unless I was being very stupid I couldn’t find their work. These were art pieces not practical one but it was interesting to see how the ceramic can be used as an art form. I have to say a quick word about the gallery as a whole which is a lovely new space opposite the British Museum and sells work by many of the association’s members from affordable mugs to great art pieces.