Ceramic artist Adam Frew, based in rural Northern Ireland, creates wheel-thrown vessels defined by clean, simple forms that subtly reveal the presence of the maker’s hand, imbuing the work with a sense of life. His practice centres on the physical and expressive possibilities of throwing, embracing the spontaneity, speed and energy of working with large volumes of clay. He engages directly with the material, pushing it to its limits to create voluminous pots.
Working primarily in porcelain, Frew uses the surface of each pot as a canvas. The white ground provides a blank surface for mark making, where contrasts between sharp lines, crayon-like scribbles, brush marks and sponged-back sections interact with both glazed and bare areas. His marks are continually evolving, with each piece informing the next. He considers both glazed and unglazed areas in developing surface compositions. Texture is a recently added element in his work. He throws coloured clay ridges and applies these to the surface in circular and arching lines to break up the surface in a new way. These raised lines highlight the contours of the pot and create barriers that influence how glazes move and settle.
Adam Frew applied for a Golden Fleece Award to support a dedicated period of studio time focused on producing a new body of large-scale ceramic vessels. The award would enable him to take time away from regular production work, invest in materials, and push the scale, form and surface language of his practice.
