Overview

Magdalene Odundo brings together the art of sculpture and the craft of pottery to create striking ceramic vessels, whose resonances range from early Greek Cycladic sculpture to traditional African pottery. This book is the first full-length publication on the work of an artist who has achieved international recognition for her beautifully restrained ceramic forms. Born in Nairobi in 1950, Magdalene Odundo studied ceramics at the West Surrey College of Art and the Royal College of Art, travelling to Nigeria to research the mix of traditional and western cultural and technological concerns among potters there. She has since travelled widely in Europe, America and Africa, drawing on sources as varied as the pottery of New Mexico, the body art of Central Africa, and the forms of early Greek sculpture. Her work has a wide following and she is represented in major national collections worldwide. Magdalene Odundo provides a complete illustrated catalogue of the artist's work to date. Essays by Simon Olding and Emmanuel Cooper are accompanied by full-page colour reproductions of key works. The book will be widely welcomed by collectors, dealers, curators, art historians and all those with an interest in contemporary studio ceramics.

Full Product Details

9780853319054

Table of Contents

Reviews

'The work itself is stunning, and so is this beautiful book.' Women's Art Journal 'This visually beautiful book serves as a complete illustrated catalog of Odundo's contemporary studio ceramic work... Odundo's simple, elegant vessels are portrayed through a generous number of color photographs, many full page... includes a complete catalog of her work as well as a chronology and bibliography, making this the definitive book on the artist's work... Highly recommended.' Choice '... a stunning monograph on Magdalene Odundo... The visual presentation is sophisticated and spacious, both in the lavish colour reproductions of key works and the layout of text... This book is a testimony to the power and gravitas of Odundo's ceramic vessels which practically jump off the pages, while the clear thought-provoking texts give a profound insight into her work.' Jane Perryman, Ceramic Review ' Magdalene Odundo is [...] a great and important achievement. As a survey of a potter's work it sets an important benchmark of comprehensive examination.' Augustus Casely-Hayford, Crafts 'This volume ... is a triumphant analysis on the intellectual and aesthetic influences that have influenced Odundo's work ... The real focus of the book ... lies in the stunning photographs of Odundo's ceramics which collectively represents the most complete survey to date of her astonishingly sensitive ceramic vessels.' Antiques Magazine

Author Information

Anthony Slayter-Ralph is an art consultant and independent curator. Emmanuel Cooper is a potter and critic and Editor of Ceramic Review. Simon Olding is Director of the Crafts Study Centre, Farnham.

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