Art Theory: From Omega to Troy Town - An Introduction to 20th and 21st Century Ceramic Practice - Camden Art Centre

Art Theory: From Omega to Troy Town – An Introduction to 20th and 21st Century Ceramic Practice

Over this three week course, Dr Julian Stair will chart the development of British studio ceramics from the beginning of the 20th Century to current practice. Through this series of lectures, discussions and accompanied readings, participants will be introduced to key events, ideas and artists that have shaped ceramic practices.

Week 1 will examine how ceramic practice emerged out of early English Modernist ideas through to the Dartington Craft Conference of 1952 and the apogee of Bernard Leach’s ruralist craft vision.

Week 2 will look at the impact of Picasso on a post-war generation of ceramicists and successive challenges from Post-Modern ideas of the vessel to Aaron Angel’s ‘radical and psychedelic experience’ at Troy Town pottery.

Week 3 focuses on Julian Stair’s research; he will talk through the ideas that have informed his ceramic practice over the last 35 years, addressing topics from domesticity to death.

Julian Stair will give a talk with artists Eva Masterman and Jackson Sprague on Wednesday 1 November. A complimentary ticket to this talk is included when booking onto the art theory course.

Julian Stair will lead this course. Julian is one of the UK’s leading potters. He studied at Camberwell School of Art and the RCA. He has exhibited internationally since 1982 and has work in 30 public collections. Julian is a leading historian of English studio ceramics. He completed a PhD at the RCA researching the critical origins of English studio pottery and has written extensively on the subject. Publications include The Body Politic: The Role of the Body in Contemporary Craft, Crafts Council, 2000 and Contemporary Clay and Museum Culture, Co-editor with C. Brown & C. Twomey, Routledge, 2016. Read more.

Eligible Concessions
Concessionary fees are available to attendees who are in receipt of housing and council tax benefits, income support, jobseeker’s allowance or a state pension, full time students with NUS cards or those who are registered as disabled.

Terms and Conditions
 Booking on a course at Camden Arts Centre signifies your agreement to our terms and conditions as stated in our Learning Agreement. These are available to read on our website and at the Bookshop.
 As part of the enrolment procedure, all participants must complete a registration form.
 Bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable, unless the course is cancelled by the Centre.
 Evidence of concessionary status must be shown on the first day of the course.
 5 week courses run twice. Please only book a single place on one of the two courses to ensure as many people as possible are able to participate.
 All materials are provided.