The National Gallery of Victoria will trace the history and evolution of studio ceramics in its new exhibition Thrown: Studio ceramics from the Kenneth Hood Bequest.
Kenneth Hood was a passionate connoisseur of international and Australian ceramics and owned what was arguably the finest private collection of studio ceramics in Australia. Thrown will present over 70 works from his comprehensive collection alongside contemporary ceramic works recently acquired through the Kenneth Hood Bequest Fund.
Tony Ellwood, NGV Director, said that Mr Hood’s remarkable collection features important pieces from studio pottery’s most renowned practitioners.
“Kenneth Hood generously gifted his vast and well-chosen collection of studio pottery to the NGV in 2002. As part of this gift a bequest fund was established which allows us to continue to strengthen the Gallery’s holdings of works by Australian and international ceramic artists, paving the way for the future growth of our decorative arts collection,” said Mr Ellwood.
Mr Hood’s taste for ceramics formed during the 1950s and was strongly influenced by Anglo and Japanese stoneware traditions. The most influential exponent of this was English master potter Bernard Leach who, from the 1940s, had a significant impact on the development of studio pottery throughout the world.
Thrown includes works by Leach as well as key Australian potters including Harold Hughan and Peter Rushforth who influenced many ceramicists in this country, particularly in the practice of wheel-thrown stoneware. Thrown will also include works by Australian artist Merric Boyd, considered the first notable artist potter in Australia and often referred to as the father of Australian studio pottery, and master Japanese potter Shoji Hamada.
Thrown: Studio ceramics from the Kenneth Hood Bequest will be on display at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 23 November 2012 until mid-2013. Open 10am–5pm, Tues–Sun. Entry is free.
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