23/11/2011

Issued ny York Art Gallery

The first major UK touring exhibition on one of the country's most significant ceramic artists will open at York Art Gallery next year.

Gordon Baldwin: Objects for a Landscape will showcase more than 100 works, giving a rich and exciting insight into the history of British constructed clay over the last 50 years.

The exhibition, which opens on February 11 2012, will include new, never seen before work by Baldwin as well as featuring related drawings, collages and other 2D works by the artist.
The exhibition is preceded by a second supporting exhibition, Excitations, Baldwin's choice of ceramics from the York Art Gallery collection by artists whose styles and techniques have inspired him. This exhibition acts as an introduction to the art of Baldwin and will then complement the main show when it opens in February.

Helen Walsh, assistant curator of decorative arts, said: "Gordon Baldwin, OBE, is regarded as the UK's most distinguished living sculptural potter, who for the last 50 years has been making the most radical and exciting work in clay. He has been highly influential as both a teacher and an artist and is seen as a key post-war artist who moved ceramics onto a sculptural platform away from its more traditional functional concerns.

"Objects for a Landscape will include many works on display to the public for the first time since they were made allowing an in-depth look at some of Baldwin's most significant work. Meanwhile Excitations will offer a unique look into the artists, styles and techniques which have influenced Baldwin throughout his career."

Gordon Baldwin: Objects for a Landscape: February 11 2012 - June 10 2012
Celebrating the achievements of one of the most important ceramic artists of our time, the exhibition includes around 100 works shown thematically, alongside related drawings, collages and photographs. It will explore Baldwin's influences, from music and landscape, to 20th century art. There will be some early works but the emphasis will be on work from the 1980s onwards when Baldwin found his own artistic voice. The show will also include a group of new works made by Baldwin as he approaches his 80th birthday. Many of the works will be loans from private collections from across the country, as well as from Baldwin himself.

Images of Baldwin's studio by the celebrated photographer Phil Sayer.

The work for the show will be selected by curator Tatjana Marsden, director of the Marsden Woo Gallery and former director of Contemporary Applied Arts, London. It will be designed by ceramicist and designer Martin Smith (head of ceramics at the Royal College of Art). The first significant book on Baldwin will also be released to complement the exhibition, with essays from David Whiting, Dr Jeffrey Jones and Baldwin himself. It features specially commissioned new photography by Philip Sayer, and is edited
by David Whiting.

The exhibition will also be shown at Gallery Oldham, The Hub (Lincolnshire), Plymouth Art Gallery and Museum and Ruithin Craft Centre (North Wales).

Excitations: October 15 2011 - Autumn 2012
The exhibition features 35 works by artists chosen by Baldwin because of the influence they had on him when he was a student, when they helped bring about the moment he gave up painting in favour of working primarily in clay.

The choices are varied, ranging from medieval jugs to Japanese works to modernist pieces. Artists chosen include Bernard Leach, Hans Coper, Sam Haile and Pablo Picasso.
Helen Walsh, assistant curator of decorative arts, said: "We were excited to offer Gordon the opportunity to select his own exhibition using our collection and are delighted with the results. It offers an intriguing insight into this important artist and his sources of inspiration."

Gordon designed the exhibition around his time as a student and decided to limit himself to the key artists and types of pots he came across during that period. The objects are supported by photographic images, some taken by Gordon and others showing him during his student days.

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