Contemporary Ceramics

A comprehensive worldwide survey, with over 600 stunning illustrations, of the most distinctive, intensely creative and innovative recent work, ranging from functional objects to the boundaries and possibilities of clay as a medium. Recently, all areas of ceramic practice have been revitalized and the gulf that traditionally existed between the realms of lsquo;fine art' and lsquo;craft' has narrowed, resulting in a shift in perception of what ceramics can be and can mean. Contemporary Ceramics covers every aspect of practice and includes work of all scales - from a few centimetres to vast room-sized installations. It is organized into five main chapters: . Beyond Utility - bold and original, yet functional ceramics, including tea sets, cups, teapots and dinner services . Defining Space - the vessel and its relationship to space and the void, featuring wheel-thrown shapes, slip-cast forms and hand-built structures . Mind the Gap - the plasticity of clay and its earthy associations, including sculptural work from precise and mechanical to freely modelled forms . A Sense of Space - installations, the site-specific and the environmental . The Line of Beauty - new creative possibilities and collaborations between art and industry, many of which have resulted from recent advances in technology. Complete with biographies of the featured ceramists and a list of selected art galleries and museums with collections of contemporary ceramics, this comprehensive survey will be an indispensable guide for ceramists, students and collectors alike.