Contemporary ceramicists are using cutting-edge technology, conceptual thinking and new platforms to push the boundaries of clay and broaden its appeal. A generation is emerging whose work is irreverent, playful and radical - but also beautiful - while established avant-garde ceramicists are gaining broader recognition. This book, a companion volume to Unravelled and Threads, explores the work of ninety artists at the vanguard of this movement. Their works range from monumental installations and imaginary bestiaries to abstract shapes or human-sized characters: Barnaby Barford taps into the heritage of porcelain with playful remakings of the kinds of figurines popular during the 18th and 19th centuries; Manoli Gonzalez's delicate, translucent pieces are inspired by the vegetable world; Caroline Cheng's Prosperity dress, adorned with more than 25,000 tiny porcelain butterflies, is the centrepiece of the British Museum's 20th- and 21st-century collection of Chinese works. Spanning the world and the generations, the artists gathered in this book offer an exciting showcase of a booming practice.
Contemporary Ceramic Art