Clay: Contemporary Ceramic Artisans

by Amber Creswell Bell

Captures the feel of the ceramicist’s studio with new appreciation for the beautiful, functional, and accessible works being produced by a new generation of makers Ceramics is back in a big way, experiencing a steady surge of interest and popularity not seen since the 1970s. The return to the handmade, driven by our increasingly digital lives, means there are now more makers, sellers, and collectors than ever. There is also a new desire for unique objects made by hand and the imperfections associated with the marks of the maker. Pottery captures this authenticity in ways no other medium can. From decorative pieces to the beautiful but functional, to sculptural works pushing the boundaries of the medium, Clay surveys the rich creative output of fifty of the top studio potters from around the world. It is a celebration of a new generation of artisans working in clay, a snapshot not necessarily of what is happening at the elite gallery level but rather a behind-the-scenes look at unique and eclectic offerings, both functional and sculptural, from small studios around the world. 250+ color illustrations

Genres: Art

256 pages, Hardcover

Published February 21, 2017

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful coffee table book about ceramic artists. I enjoyed reading how they think and why they create. I must say this book covers mostly pottery and table ware: Bowls, cups, vases. Only a few 'strange objects' were included. This book is more about the artists thoughts, it reads like small biographies with a picture of their studio, work in progress or a stack of finished products. This does not read like a visual portfolio. But of course, you can always google your favorites and find their website to see more.

[Donna D · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is still new to the world of pottery, I found this book to be informative. Even more so, it helped me to understand that making pottery is a journey.

[Laura Estelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rating is primarily for the writing in this book. The artist descriptions were all written in the same voice, one that I associate with conceptual artists giving slide talks. They all blended together, in a sea of vague pretentiousness. This homogeneity of presentation felt unfair to the artists, many of whom I assume have interesting voices.

I did like the range of works selected, and the photos were all decent quality. If only there had been more images and fewer words!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really cool book to read. It has photographs and descriptions about the different ceramics artists. I really enjoyed reading about all of their different approaches to art and how they add their flair and interest to a piece. For example one artist said “The interaction and relevance of the space inbetween is what interests me” (Bell 26) However other artists focus more on mark making. Such a cool and beautifully designed book for inspiration!

[Liz S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but I would have liked more about their work in their own voices. I found I only read the segments about the artists whose work I was most drawn to as many of the entries were quite similar in content and tone.

[Jolien · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[maureen cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of contemporary ceramic artisans with wonderful photography of the diverse techniques and styles of each potter, and explains their work ethos, their inspiration and their ability to strive and ultimately achieve their conceptual idea through the medium of clay. LOVE it!