Nordic inspiration for exhibition to showcase work of top ceramicists
THEY TOPPED the medals table at the recent Winter Olympics and have cornered the market in classy thrillers, and now York Art Gallery is hoping to channel a little Nordic flair.
Norwegian graphic designer, sculptor and painter Per Inge Bjørlo has been drafted in to curate the latest exhibition in the gallery’s Anthony Shaw space, part of the internationally renowned Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA). Opening today, it draws on work from Anthony Shaw’s celebrated collection, which is now on long-term loan to York Art Gallery. Mr Bjørlo has previously exhibited in New York, Tokyo and Berlin and here he has selected pieces by leading ceramicists like Gordon Baldwin, Gillian Lowndes and Kerry Johnson.
Mr Shaw, who has been collecting art for more than 40 years, said: “Having decided that we needed a change, we looked for someone outside the British studio ceramic field. I greatly admire Per Inge’s sensitivity with materials and his direct approach.
“He has chosen to concentrate on the sculptural work of the main artists feature in CoCA, contrasting them with heavy, richly textured fabrics from my personal collection.”
CoCA opened in 2015 as part of a major £8m renovation of York Art Galley, which saw the roof space on the first floor opened up to showcase its ceramic collection.
Containing some 5,500 objects by 600 artists, it is considered the largest and among the most important ceramic collections in the UK. Having secured more space to display the work, the gallery is now home to a 55ft wall of pots, featuring more than 1,000 ceramics from the Roman period through to the present day.
A spokesman for the gallery said: “Formed mainly of large gifts from significant private collectors, CoCA retains the unique personality, passions and obsessions of its creators, providing an insight into the socio-economic development of the British studio ceramics movement.”