Andrea and John Gill – decorative ceramic art

 

 

alfred-university-school-of-art-and-design-andrea-gill

Andrea Gill  – 2014

 

Andrea Gill believes that ceramics is the ideal media to combine surface color and three-dimensional form. The thrust of her work is more preoccupied with the decorative than functional, which liberates the scale of her works and scope of her designs. Detailed imagery and patterning is an ever present feature of her ceramics, which she successfully integrates into her original shapes. These tend to involve appendages of wing like handles (not dissimilar to hispano moresque alhambra vases) and vessels surrounded by larger vessels, supporting more utiisation of detail, and bringing forth a refreshing journey of discovery, wonder and a sense of evolving form. Her work is decorated, often employing hand-cut stencils, which generate stunning layers of color and glaze on clay vessels that allude to the history of ceramics, textiles, painting and ornament.

An extract from Andrea Gill’s artistic statement:

“I choose to make vases and bowls because those forms allow the most open interpretation of shape without losing the iconic identity of the object. The scale of the vases, from two to six feet, gives me room to explore color, shape and pattern. The bowls provide a more intimate space where I have been exploring narrative ideas, recently involving mythology. My devotion to surface patterning has also proven to be an addiction that satisfies my love of stylized image and my firmly positive response to the word ‘decorative’. In the motifs of my overlaid figure/ground surfaces, I suspect I am often exploring my subconscious. The sources for the motifs range from my garden to doodles to texts of historical ornament, such as Owen Jones’ Grammar of Ornament. There is the affirmation of historic precedence of the painted pot, and the possibilities of current clay and glaze technology to support my vision.”

Her husband John Gill displays a similar ceramic trajectory of a restless dynamic with lots of movement, but featuring more asymmetrical forms, highlighted by multi faceted surfaces of contrasting colours and combinations of expressive shapes. John Gill knew he wanted to be a ceramic artist when he was told you couldn’t make sculpture out of clay. Failing to grasp the rationale behind this assertion, it motivated him to pursue a path in ceramics to prove this was a fallacy. He hasn’t looked back since.

 

John Gill’s Artist Statement –

“In my work I try to utilize simple techniques. This allows for freedom of ideas and process. Shape, form, use and color in form and to question other possibilities. My work uses shape and form to inflate color. Working within the realm of function expands the potential. History of ceramics, painting and sculpture collide. Clay has a simple directness – it prints beautifully.”

 

 

Andrea Gill

BFA in painting from Rhode Island School of Design in 1971, and, after a serendipitous job working for a potter, went on to study ceramics at the Kansas City Art Institute. She is currently a professor of ceramic art at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in Alfred, New York. She has been a resident at the Archie Bray Foundation and Anderson Ranch and in October 2012 Andrea Gill worked in the Voulkos Visiting Artist Studio as a Visiting Artist Fellow.

website

 

andrea-gill-vase-and-bowl-2013 with turquoise highlights

Andrea Gill – vase and bowl set

2013

 

 

andrea-gill_composite-ceramic-vessel

Footed ceramic vessel with elaborate lid – Andrea Gill

 

 

andrea-gill-tall head vase

Sculptural head vase – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

andrea-gill-ceramic vase with patterned surface decoration

Vase with surface pattern decoration – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

 

andrea-gill-3-1 Cherry Blossoms on a Winter Day vase

‘Cherry Blossoms on a Winter Day’  – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

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Andrea Gill

Harvey Meadows Gallery

2014

 

 

andrea-gill-ceramic-sculpture vases with female face motifs

Andrea Gill

 

 

 

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Vase bowl set – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

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Female figurine vessel – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

andrea-gill-ceramic vessel with bottle insert

Andrea Gill

 

andrea-gill-iznik-vase in turquoise and pink and floral decoration

‘Iznik Vase’ with arabesque decoration – Andrea Gill

 

 

andrea-gill-ceramic vessel with relief face

Ceramic vessel with tapestry and fabric print textures – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

andrea-gill-meadows-gallery vase and bowl combo

Andrea Gill

Harvey Meadows Gallery

2014

 

 

andrea-gill-meadows-gallery ceramic vessel encasing a vase with black and white geometric patterns

Ceramic vessel encasing a vase- Andrea Gill

 

 

Alfred-university-school-of-art-and-design-image-gallery-andrea-gill - bird motif vase

Andrea Gill

Alfred University School of Art and Design Image Gallery

 

 

 

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Andrea Gill vases

 

 

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Andrea Gill matching vessels

 

 

 

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Andrea Gill

Low fire ceramic, Majolica glaze, engobes

34 inches height

 

 

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‘Hidden Glance’ – Andrea Gill

1990

 

 

madonna-series-sweet-2010-low-fire-ceramic-majolica-glaze-andrea-gill-28-x-14-x-9

Madonna series ‘Sweet’ – Andrea Gill

Low fire ceramic, Majolica glaze

28 x 4 x 9 inches  — 2010

 

 

 

mithila-basin-andrea-gill ceramic art

‘Mithila Basin’ – Andrea Gill

 

 

 

red-and-pink-flowers vessel - Andrea Gill

‘Red and Pink Flower Vessel’ – Andrea Gill

 

 

vessel-andrea-gill - vase with a raised relief face

Face sculpture vase – Andrea Gill

 

 

John Gill

 

John Gill is a Professor of Ceramic Art at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University where he is currently Chair of the Division of Ceramic Art.. He has degrees from the Kansas City Art Institute (BFA, 1973) and The New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (MFA, 1975).

 

website

 

 

bottle-7-by-John Gill-on-artnet bottle-7-1986

‘Bottle #7’ – John Gill

 

 

 

John Gill lone-vase-stoneware

Stoneware ‘Lone Vase’ – John Gill

 

 

John Gill geometric poly-chrome bowl

Geometric pattern bowl – John Gill

 

 

 

John Gill ceramic-ewer

Ceramic Ewer – John Gill

 

 

John Gill ceramic platter with abstract motif in muerous colours

Ceramic platter – John Gill

 

 

John Gill ewer-1983-stoneware-12-x-13-x-9-5-in-photo-brian-oglesbee

Ewer – John Gill

12-x-13-x-9.5-inches

Photo Brian Oglesbee

 

 

John Gill-ceramic sculptured platter

Ceramic platter – John Gill

 

 

John Gill ceramic-bottle- in muted earthy colour tones

Ceramic bottle – John Gill

 

 

 

John Gill teapot-2aeapot-2-2013-stoneware

Teapot – John Gill

 

 

ewer-3-john-gill abstract ceramic ewer

Abstract ceramic ‘Ewer 3′ – John Gill

Harvey Meadows Gallery

 

 

 

john-gill-large-glazed-stoneware-teapot-or-pitcher-alfred-ny

John Gill – large glazed stoneware teapot or pitcher

 

 

john-gill-abstract-ceramic-sculpture

Sculptural ceramic vase – John Gill

 

 

john-gill-ceramic-ewer abstract form- red-turquoise, white and blue coloured glaze

Ceramic Ewer – John Gill

 

 

 

 

john-gill-mug-2_fart-for-the-table

John Gill mug

 

 

john-gill-polychrome-radish-platter-2010-stoneware-16-x-22-x-5-in-photo-brian-oglesbee

Polychrome stoneware radish platter 2010- John Gill

16 x 22 x 5 inches

Photo Brian Oglesbee

 

 

 

teapot-by-john-gill-on-artnet-1980

John Teapot 2010

 

 

vase-by-john-gill-on-artnet-2001

Abstract shaped vase – John Gill

 

 

 

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Vase by John Gill

 

 

 

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Wine Ewer with handle – John Gill

height 13 inches

 

 

 

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Lidded abstract jar  John Gill

31 x 12 inches

 

 

 

sculptural-ewer-by-john-gill-on-artnet sculptural-ewer-1990

Sculptural ceramic ewer – John Gill

 

 

andrea-john-gill

Andrea and John Gill teaching

 

 

 

 

 
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2 Comments

  1. Posted November 17, 2016 at 2:12 am | Permalink

    Hi Robbie
    thanks for this! i have always loved their work!! have not seen John’s work being this colourful – a real treat.
    once took a workshop with him – he described one of my earlier vases as “A mardi gras of colour” – i have always remembered that great description. he was also sooo entertaining!!
    xoxoSuzy

  2. carol schumacher
    Posted July 23, 2020 at 8:15 am | Permalink

    Is there a T.Gill??

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