Vicky Shaw: Compositions in Context

Vicky Shaw: Compositions in Context

Ceramics Gallery
Aberystwyth Arts Centre

1 March – 31 May 2007

Following a project with Wedgwood in 2001, Vicky Shaw created wall plaques and assemblages that offer a new interpretation of a two-hundred year old tradition. In this exhibition she shows her work alongside pieces from the Aberystwyth collection selecting works that create conversations with her own. As a pioneer of screen printing on ceramics the exhibition includes work by other makers who have used printing techniques.

3 Bowl Composition

The bowl/vessel compositions are inspired by familiar objects from farm tools to domestic utensils, from spades to spoons and strainers. They explore contrasting elements of colour, pattern and mark making. Flat sheets of clay are screen-printed with under-glaze colour and then pressed over a plaster mould for the bowls or cut out for the spatulas. The pieces are twice-fired and carefully polished with diamond pads to give the pristine finish.

Bowl and Cylinder Composition

The wall pieces are more intuitive compositions drawing, among other things, on evocative memories of allotment plantings, old sheds and ad-hoc fences. Vicky Shaw creates order out of chaos and art works out of everyday life.

2 Bowl Composition

Vicky Shaw is currently Route Leader in Ceramics at the University of Wolverhampton, where she was previously Senior Lecturer from 1988 until 2006. She has exhibited her work regularly in the Midlands, as well as Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Korea.

Biography

Education

1981–1984 BA (Hons) Design (Ceramics), Staffordshire Polytechnic
1984–1986 MA Ceramic Design, Staffordshire Polytechnic
1986–1989 Researcher in Ceramic Print, Wolverhampton Polytechnic

Exhibitions

2007 Group exhibition jury selected, The 4th World Biennale 2007 Korea
2005–2006 Solo exhibition,’Compositions’ colour-pattern-form, Deutsche Porzellanmuseum, Selb, Germany
2005–2006 Group exhibition, ‘Whitegold’, China Clay Country Park,
StAustell, Cornwall (touring)
2002 ‘The Collection’ (Jasper Ware, Wedgwood) work exhibited in department stores as part of Design Week, Tokyo, Japan
1998 Group exhibition, “ Pure “ Collection Gallery, Ledbury
1997 Group exhibition, “300 Tonnes of Clay ” Wolverhampton Art Gallery
1996–1998 Group exhibition, “ Hot off the Press “ A Tullie House touring exhibition
1995–1996 Group exhibition jury selected, “ Made in the Middle “ a Craftspace touring exhibition
1995 Group exhibition jury selected, “ Manises Biennal Europea de Ceramica, Museu de Ceramica de Manises, Valencia
1995 Group exhibition jury selected, “ Fourth Triennale de la Porcelaine“, Nyon-Suisse, Switzerland
1994 Solo exhibition, The Bond Gallery, Birmingham
1993 Group exhibition jury selected, “ Three Dimensional Printmakers “ Nottingham Trent University
1991–1992 West Midlands Crafts Open, A Craftspace Touring exhibition
1988 Solo exhibition, “ Printed Pots “ School of Art & Design Gallery, Wolverhampton Polytechnic

Collections

2005 Imerys Minerals Head Office, Paris
2006 Wedgwood Museum Trust, Barlaston, Staffordshire

Commissions

2001 Wedgwood, “The collection “ (Jasper Ware) 100% Design exhibition Earls Court, London
2001 Wedgwood retail UK, 36 bowls in Jasper
2000 White House Restaurant Prestbury, Cheshire, four printed porcelain wall panels

Workshops

2000 Contributed to “Ceramic Millennium Caravan” workshop, Staffordshire University
1997 Ceramic workshop, “ Printing on Clay-Bowls and Dishes “ Crafts Council, London
1997 Ceramic workshop, “ Printing on Clay “ Crafts Council, London
1996 Ceramic printing workshop, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery,
Stoke on Trent
1990 Ceramics workshop, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery,
Stoke on Trent

Residences

1996 Artist in residence, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent

Publications

2005 Exhibition catalogue, Compositions colour-pattern-form, edited by Wilhelm Siemen, Medienhaus Mintzel-Munich
2005 Contributor to Porcelain and Bone China a book compiled by Sasha Wardell, Crowood, (pp. 81, 82, 84, 132)
1996 Artists statement, Surfaces Explored (pp.65–68) “Hot off the Press“ Ceramics and Print, catalogue of touring exhibition compiled by Paul Scott and Terry Bennett
1995 Artists Newsletter (June issue) clay supplement, Hot off the Press,
“ Surfaces Explored “
1994 Artists Newsletter (Jan issue) clay supplement, Clay and Industry,
“ Working at Kohler “
1994 Contributor to Ceramics and Print a book compiled by Paul Scott,
A & C Black

Industrial experience

2004 Surface pattern designer, Rosenthal, Germany
1989 Ceramic print consultant, Kohler Co, Wisconsin, USA
1985 Surface pattern designer, Creative Tableware, Wedgwood group

Teaching

2006 Appointed Route Leader in Ceramics, University of Wolverhampton
1988–2006 Senior lecturer, University of Wolverhampton
1999 Visiting lecturer, The University of Kansas, USA
1998 Visiting lecturer, Burg Giebichenstein University, Halle, Germany
1995 Visiting lecturer, Burg Giebichenstein University, Halle, Germany
1994 Visiting lecturer, Konstfack University College of Arts, Craft and Design, Stockholm, Sweden
1987–2000 Visiting lecturer, Staffordshire University
1988 Visiting lecturer, Edinburgh College of Art
1987 Visiting lecturer, South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education

Compositions in Context