NEW CERAMIC EXHIBITION AT YORK ART GALLERY

Image: Vessel in the Form of a Voice, Gordon Baldwin.  ©The Anthony Shaw Collection/ York Museums Trust

'Not a Pot' showcases the wide range of sculptural pottery in the Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) at York Art Gallery. Marking the passing of one of the UK’s most influential potters, Gordon Baldwin (1932–2025), it celebrates his achievements in moving pottery away from more functional concerns. Visitors will see his impact on other artists through his work and activity as a teacher, as they explore themes such as Surrealism, landscape, function and the human figure.

An astonishing array of objects is featured in the new displays, presenting a wide range of techniques and materials, and the extraordinary ability of artists to transform simple material into works that surprise, amuse and move. Artists include Ewen Henderson, Gillian Lowndes, Richard Slee, Bernard Leach, Hans Coper, Bryan Illsley, Steve Buck, Ruth King and Ben Arnup.

Historical works are shown with the many modern ones. The exhibition encourages a deep dive into the form, colour, shape, and textures used by a wide variety of artists working in clay. Some of the artists featured have combined clay with other materials or discarded it altogether to create work out of wood or metal.

The exhibition is now open and will become part of York Art Gallery’s longer running ceramic displays. All ceramic exhibitions are included in York Art Gallery’s general admission ticket price. For more information visit the website York Art Gallery