A new exhibition of small and large-scale sculpture by ceramicist Peter Hayes is opening at Black Swan Arts in Frome on 16th February.
Peter Hayes is an international artist working in ceramics, bronze and glass. He has been at the forefront of contemporary ceramics for decades and has been an influence on many artists working in ceramics and other materials. His work has been shown all over the world and appears in many international collections.
Peter now lives and works in Bath. He was born in Birmingham where he attended the Moseley School of Art at age 12 and then went on to Birmingham College of Art in 1961. He has travelled extensively in Africa, working as a ceramic artist with tribes and village potters, who inspired him with the exquisite work they were producing using very limited technology and tools.
His unquenchable curiosity for the world then led him to India, Nepal, Japan, Korea and New Mexico where he found similar skills. He has since gone on to develop the techniques he learned, including working with bronze, glass and stone alongside clay. He is now in the process of setting up a new workshop/studio in Uidaipur, India.
Peter’s pots and sculptures are primarily concerned with the opposites of rough and smooth which he creates by building up layers of texture and then burnishing and polishing the surfaces. He pushes the boundaries of ceramics to its limits and sometimes beyond saying, “In practice I go by the seat of my pants. I have always worked this way, not going by any particular rules or methods.”
Recently he has been working on large scale forms which he places within the landscape.
The exhibition runs from 16th February to 23rd March. The preview takes place on Friday 15th Feb from 6–8pm – everyone is welcome to come along.
For further information, visit www.blackswanarts. org. uk; call 01373 473980 or email office@black swan.org.uk.
