New artworks are now on show at Wales’ most famous pottery, Nantgarw China Works, near Cardiff. Now a museum and visitor attraction, the heritage site produced porcelain so fine it was bought by royalty.
Thanks to new funding, emerging artists have had the chance to produce and show new work, fostering creative talent in Wales. And with the Great Pottery Throw Down announcing its ninth season, pottery’s popularity shows no signs of cooling down.
All graduates of Cardiff Metropolitan University’s BA in Ceramics, each work was inspired by Wales’ heritage. Bringing a range of artistic styles and ceramic techniques from the experimental, to the precise art of Japanese nerikomi, three artists were selected: Toni de Jesus, Sophie Jo Edwards and Naomi Palmer.
Toni de Jesus is an emerging artist, winner of the FRESH award at the British Ceramics Biennial 2019 and already having work shown at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea.
Taking inspiration from the south Wales valleys, Naomi Palmer’s work is clean and precise, using porclelain and parian clays, Naomi creates striking, translucent artworks.
Sophie Jo Edwards has also brought a unique artistic response to Nantgarw using materials foraged from the heritage site. Sophie said that,
“being invited to create work for Nantgarw has been a privilege…which has provided momentum in my transition from student to artist, and it’s been meaningful to contribute to the museum’s rich history”.
Nantgarw is the only surviving early-1800s porcelain works in the UK and the porcelain produced here is still considered some of the finest ever made. Opened in 1813, it continued for a century as a pottery, also making household wares and tobacco pipes.
Now operated by a charitable trust, visitors today receive a guided tour of the original factory buildings, a historic and contemporary ceramics collection, as well as a chance to relax with a cuppa or browse the gift shop, perfect for pottery-lovers.
Duncan Ayscough, Senior Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Ceramics Degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University said:
“It is great to hear that three Cardiff Met ceramics degree graduates, Toni, Naomi, and Sophie Jo, have been selected for this prestigious award.
“The Nantgarw China Works is renowned for its relentless pursuit of technical excellence and creative innovation. These makers all understand the values of this pottery in their own creative journeys and have developed their own distinctive materials and creative language, creating intriguing and beautiful works that engage with contemporary societies values and challenges.”
New work by each of the artists have been acquired by the museum thanks to support from the Contemporary Art Society for Wales (CASW) creators of the prize funded by the gift of the late Professor Bryan Hibbard and named in memory of Bryan and his late wife, Dr Elizabeth Hibbard, both long-term supporters of CASW.
Rowland Davies, Chair of CASW said,
To visit Nantgarw China Works Museum or become a Friend of Nantgarw China Works Trust, visit their website www.nantgarwchinaworksmuseum.co.uk
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