Contemporary ceramic art can be both beautiful and practical.
One of the greatest challenges contemporary ceramic artists face is the notion that ceramics serve strictly a functional purpose rather than one of aesthetic beauty. Contemporary artists have embraced ceramics for its long tradition and have brought its techniques into the 21st century to be recognized as an art form that can be both beautiful and practical. One way of examining this versatile medium is by exploring the works of internationally recognized contemporary ceramic artists.
Japanese Contemporary Ceramic Art: Makoto Hatori
Makoto Hatori is an internationally recognized Japanese contemporary ceramic artist. His work with ceramics is innovative in that he combines the centuries-old ceramic heritage of pottery used in Japan and infuses his work with modern techniques. Japanese ceramic art is based heavily in tradition, and the work of Makoto Hatori often seeks to challenge those traditions by creating art through ceramics that are meant to be thought-provoking works of art and not simply functional pieces meant for practical purposes.
American Contemporary Ceramic Art: Brenda McMahon
Brenda McMahon is an American contemporary ceramic artist who draws her artistic inspiration from her childhood and the beachside neighborhood she grew up in. Brenda McMahon also refers to the American Southwest in her artwork, incorporating the beauty and severity of the desert into her pieces, which is apparent in her desert-hued vases, sculptures and bowls.
British Contemporary Ceramic Art: Rowena Gilbert
Rowena Gilbert is a British contemporary ceramic artist whose work, like that of Brenda McMachon, reflects a simplicity and austerity. But unlike Brenda McMahon, Rowena Gilbert's work is often (but not always) monochromatic, rendered in chiaroscuro black-and-white designs, with simple patterns that create an elegance about her work which is both beautiful and practical.
American Contemporary Ceramic Art: Rebekah Bogard
Another American contemporary ceramic artist who deserves mention is Rebekah Bogard. Rebekah Bogard is well known in the contemporary ceramic art world as a creator of amazing sculpture pieces that often blend the whimsical with the strange and unusual. Her pieces have gained attention for their ingenuity and life-like qualities that seamlessly combine to form an alternate reality for the viewer of her exhibitions.
Indian Contemporary Ceramic Art: Vipoo Srivilasa
Vipoo Srivilasa is an internationally recognized contemporary ceramic sculpture artist. Like the work of fellow artist Rowena Gilbert, Vipoo Srivilasa is well known for his two-tone ceramics, which are created in much the same styles that come from his heritage rooted in India. But his work is not limited to these traditional styles, and his playful, colorful sculptures have been showcased around the world.
