Made of Clay: The Art of Ceramics

Clay from the earth represents some of the earliest artifacts made by man. Advancements in pottery, including hand-building techniques, the use of the potter’s wheel, firing clay objects in a kiln, and special glazing techniques have turned ceramics into both an art and science. While most pottery is seen as utilitarian, the modern era of ceramics (since World War II) has explored burgeoning technology and aesthetic appreciation for ceramic objects. 

The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art has a growing collection of ceramics documenting its evolution as a fine art craft. The 17 works on view in this exhibition span from a large 1930s Art Deco vase to a Picasso owl figure created in 1951 to large-scale ceramic pieces that are viewed as sculpture. Many of the artists presented are ceramic educators working in art centers, colleges and universities through the state of Florida and southeastern United States. The museum is pleased to highlight works by Jonathan Barnes, Kim Kirchman and McKenzie Smith, three ceramic artists from the St. Petersburg College Fine Arts Department.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.