James Tower, Waving reeds vessel
1980
Fluid Abstract odyssey
Sinuous movement and a transcendent kinesis, inspired by water currents, marine life and the sea are very ubiquitous in James Tower’s sgraffito ceramic decorations, mainly from an underwater perspective. The gentle movement of water reeds, sea forest kelps and other natural abstractions is captured with the use of enticing patterns, rhythm, tension and a fluidity in his ceramic sculptures to create perspectives of sublime motion. His pieces like Nebulae, Sea Piece Opus and Glacier make you feel like you are being drawn you into a submerged Sci Fi like portal, inviting you to float into a fluid tromp e-l’œil dimension.
Tower claimed that his goal was to achieve “a sense of completion to satisfy a longing for a serene harmonious whole, which contains dynamism and vitality, to fulfill our intellectual and spiritual needs.” This was even more poignant to him by the fact that he regarded it as such an elusive quality. At the age of 17, James spent time in Australia and New Caledonia, where it would have been hard to ignore the dynamism of the oceans. He later stated that he searched for ways to convey a sense of integrity, releasing internal, serene and harmonious tensions, in a world where abundant energy remains calm. ‘The objects that I strive to do are attempts at hymns to the beauty of the natural world’.
A centenary exhibition of this British trailblazer in contemporary ceramic art and sculpture is currently running at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath, UK, till the 24th November, 2019. This exhibition consists of over 50 works by Tower, dating from the 1930s to the 80s. Many of these works will be on public display for the first time.
‘Snow Forest’ — ceramic sculpture
Erskine Hall & Coe
‘Snow Forest’ –view 2 — James Tower
James Tower ‘Large Bowl’, 1983, tin-glazed earthenware,
44 cm diameter
James Tower-contemproary sgraffito vessel
James Tower Centenery exhibition abstract ceramic sculptures
James Tower abstract platter
James Tower, Small Bowl
1950
James Tower sgraffito decoration
Victoria Gallery exhibition, Bath
James Tower – Tear shaped platter
James Tower – ‘Winter Grasses Opus’ – a large flat disc form
1986
‘Nebulae’ 2 – A large flattened square vase, 1981
James Tower, Black and White Bowl
1958
James Tower, ‘Oval Form’
1981
James Tower ‘Round Form’ tin-glazed earthenware
55 x 56 cm — 1983
Owl Dish – James Tower
James Tower, Circular Grey and Black Bowl
1958
James Tower ceramic scultpure
Footed ovoid vessel – James Tower
Black/white sgraffito vase — James Tower
James Tower, ‘Cockerel Plate’
1952
James Tower, ‘Fish Dish’
James Tower, ‘Fish Skeleton Opus 150′ vase
12 inches, 1957
James Tower painting on paper
James Tower sgraffito geometric mosaic style plate
James Tower
James Tower, ‘Glacier’, tin glazed earthenware
James Tower, ‘Leaf Vase’
James Tower, ‘Morning Tide Long Form’
James Tower, ceramic Sculpture
1965-66 16.5 inches height
‘Sea Piece’, flat round form – James Tower
22 inches height, 1985
James Tower, ‘ Sea Piece opus-179′
1984
James Tower, ‘Thaw Opus 145′
17inches
James Tower, ‘Spume’
James Tower, ovoid ‘Vessel’
1985
James Tower, ‘Winged Form’
1961
James Tower — Black and white Fish Dish
Leaves Vessel by James Tower
