Jane King East Sussex, United Kingdom
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My small ceramic sculptures combine opposites of form, texture and colour as metaphors for perfection and control v imperfection and chaos. Through my work I explore the contemporary obsession, evident on social media, with seeking control and perfection in all aspects of our lives. I have an MA in ceramics, exhibit nationally and internationally, and have been shortlisted for a number of prizes.

My ceramic sculptures combine opposites of form, texture, and colour as metaphors for perfection and control versus imperfection and chaos. I'm interested in the contemporary obsession with seeking control and perfection in all aspects of life, and fascinated by the tendency, prevalent on social media, of masking the chaos of real life through the presentation of curated and carefully managed idealised identities, which generally only highlight success or positive news. I explore these ideas through the physical characteristics of my sculptures. In my work, I aim for a sculptural tension between states of messiness and the uncontrolled with the tidy and ordered, the two states co-existing dynamically in each object. I don’t set out to make completely planned objects, rather, objects emerge from new ways of combining these opposing states, which are in themselves the results of different, more, or less controlled processes. Clay can be precise or messy when worked in distinct ways, and I combine different methods within each piece – careful construction with looser handling. Balance is achieved through skilled making and manipulation of materials. Surface treatments include dark, sticky-looking, folding or collapsing glazes contrasted with neatly applied vivid acrylic. My sculptures create dynamic and intriguing environments when displayed in small groups in the gallery space or home environment.

My ceramic work is hand-built, or thrown on the pottery wheel and altered, or both. Each piece takes several hours to make.

Artwork

Plinth series, tangerine and denim blue, ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2022

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Plinth series, green and green, ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2022

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Untitled, Fold series, tangerine and green (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2021

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Untitled, Fold series, green and denim blue (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2021

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Untitled, Spill series, pale pink and black (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic, with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2016, Private collection

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Untitled, Absence series, tangerine and green (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2014, Private collection

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Untitled, Spill series, pink and green (photo: Bernard G Mills), ceramic with earthenware glaze and acrylic, 2014, £300

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Projects and exhibitions

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MK Calling

15/02/2021 — 01/11/2020

Five works exhibited in MK Calling, 'showcasing the most dynamic work being made today'.

MK Gallery, Milton Keynes Details

European Prize for Applied Arts 2018

20/10/2018 — 20/01/2019

Shortlisted for international competition. The exhibition also toured to Ireland

BeCraft Gallery, Mons, Belgium Details

Annex Collection Acquisition Award

01/04/2017 — 01/05/2017

Shortlisted for acquisition award. Work featured on Annex Collection website

N/A, N/A Details

Inaugural Julia Carter Preston Prize

09/07/2016 — 21/08/2016

Shortlisted for this new prize

Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool Details

Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize

16/09/2014 — 15/12/2014

Shorlisted for this new prize for contemporary ceramics

Lloyds Club, London Details

58th Competition for Contemporary Ceramics, Faenza

25/05/2013 — 22/09/2013

Awarded the Medal of the President of the Italian Senate for one of two works selected for this exhibition. Work also featured in international ceramics publication La Ceramica in Italia e nel Mondo .

International Museum of Ceramics, Faenza, Italy Details
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Media
CeramicsDrawingSculptureSocially Engaged Practice
Other keywords
AbstractExperimentalIdentity