From February 10th - October 27th 2024
I have been invited to produce a series of porcelain figures to explore and reflect the life of the Romantic Poet Lord Byron, during this 200th anniversary of his death, that will be on display for over 9 months. As you walk through the house you will discover the figures in often surprising locations.
Inspired by the type of ornament that Byron himself, in his younger days at Newstead, may have responded to, as well as having unique access to figurines in the museum’s collection, I considered some key themes in his poetry and descriptions of his early life.
The figures arise from my interest in childhood and the way that this influences us throughout the rest of our lives. Byron’s own extraordinary, and often difficult, early life, has led to pieces that reflect on childhood; the figures shown are all children or teens.
The fashions of the times are also considered. I was given unique access to look at some of the figurines in the wonderful Nottingham council art collection. Some of the pieces specifically use a line of poetry as the starting point, a few of the pieces start from his description in letters of his life at Newstead, these include the painful leg brace he wore in childhood and his reputation for starting fights at school. Some are also based on his concerns over his weight and his sparse diet.
As a nod to Byron’s ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ reputation, many of the figures refuse to stay on their ornate bases, and have mischievously escaped around the building. His solace in the companionship of his dogs and other creatures also feature.
His love of dogs - and animals in general - are a unifying theme across almost all pieces. Byron’s love of animals was legendary, and the ceramic installations try to include all or most of the animals he had over his life.
The animal theme also includes a piece to recognise Ada Lovelace (although she did not know her father or Newstead), in work imagining her childhood idea for a mechanical flying horse.
All pieces are porcelain with gold lustre.
I do hope that you are able to visit this beautiful location
Click on the logo above to go to the website for details of all the pieces, or go to
thenewsteadproject.co.uk
for opening times and visitor information please go to:
https://newsteadabbey.org.uk/
I have been invited to produce a series of porcelain figures to explore and reflect the life of the Romantic Poet Lord Byron, during this 200th anniversary of his death, that will be on display for over 9 months. As you walk through the house you will discover the figures in often surprising locations.
Inspired by the type of ornament that Byron himself, in his younger days at Newstead, may have responded to, as well as having unique access to figurines in the museum’s collection, I considered some key themes in his poetry and descriptions of his early life.
The figures arise from my interest in childhood and the way that this influences us throughout the rest of our lives. Byron’s own extraordinary, and often difficult, early life, has led to pieces that reflect on childhood; the figures shown are all children or teens.
The fashions of the times are also considered. I was given unique access to look at some of the figurines in the wonderful Nottingham council art collection. Some of the pieces specifically use a line of poetry as the starting point, a few of the pieces start from his description in letters of his life at Newstead, these include the painful leg brace he wore in childhood and his reputation for starting fights at school. Some are also based on his concerns over his weight and his sparse diet.
As a nod to Byron’s ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ reputation, many of the figures refuse to stay on their ornate bases, and have mischievously escaped around the building. His solace in the companionship of his dogs and other creatures also feature.
His love of dogs - and animals in general - are a unifying theme across almost all pieces. Byron’s love of animals was legendary, and the ceramic installations try to include all or most of the animals he had over his life.
The animal theme also includes a piece to recognise Ada Lovelace (although she did not know her father or Newstead), in work imagining her childhood idea for a mechanical flying horse.
All pieces are porcelain with gold lustre.
I do hope that you are able to visit this beautiful location
Click on the logo above to go to the website for details of all the pieces, or go to
thenewsteadproject.co.uk
for opening times and visitor information please go to:
https://newsteadabbey.org.uk/
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Collect I am thrilled to have my work presented by the wonderful Cynthia Corbett Gallery at the prestigious and unique Collect exhibition, Somerset House, organised by the Crafts Council For this I have been able to revisit The Way Home, after the original was part of the Young Masters, but now creating ten new unique figures for the 10 rules. As before, accompanying this is a useful instruction booklet, shown here, with images of the new figures https://www.young-masters.co.uk/precious-objects-buy-artwork/fight-or-flight-by-jemma-gowland https://www.thecynthiacorbettgallery.com/artists/353-jemma-gowland/biography/ |
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FEBRUARY 2024
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
Open Exhibition
A return to one of my favourite open exhibitions
Royal Cambrian Academy
Crown Lane, Conwy, UK
https://rcaconwy.org/
2024 Events
April
Ceramic Art London
Figure-making workshop, Lisbon, Portugal
May
Potfest Glynde
Craftworks, with Design-Nation, Shoreditch, London Craft Week
July
Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest, 26-28 July
August
Potfest Suffolk, Haughly Park, 9-11 August
October
Oxford Ceramics Fair, 26-27th October
November
Art in Clay Farnham, 16-17th November
April
Ceramic Art London
Figure-making workshop, Lisbon, Portugal
May
Potfest Glynde
Craftworks, with Design-Nation, Shoreditch, London Craft Week
July
Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest, 26-28 July
August
Potfest Suffolk, Haughly Park, 9-11 August
October
Oxford Ceramics Fair, 26-27th October
November
Art in Clay Farnham, 16-17th November
2023
Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize
Shortlist
I am so pleased that my group 'The Way Home' was shortlisted for the Young Masters Maylis ceramics prize,
Young Masters is a not-for-profit international initiative which was launched in 2009 by gallerist Cynthia Valianti Corbett, founder of Cynthia Corbett Gallery.
In 2014 the Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramic Prize was added to focus more attention on the growing interest in the collection of contemporary craft. 2017 saw the launch of the inaugural Young Masters Emerging Women Award. The fifth edition and 10th Anniversary Exhibition of the Prize took place in October 2014
Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize Exhibition:
3 - 8 October at 67 York Street, Marylebone
For more information about the exhibition please visit
https://www.young-masters.co.uk
Stop press.... Very pleased to have been 'Highly Commended' for the Young masters emerging woman artist award
and to learn that my group has been acquired by the wonderful Brad Blume, of the Rudolf Blume Foundation, for his private collection
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Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023
I am delighted that the 18-section piece 'Facebook turns 18: growing up in the digital age' was accepted to the iconic Summer Exhibition, and wass beautifully placed in the Lecture room with the company of some amaing sculpture.
Many thanks to David Remfrey RA and Tim Shaw RA for the beautiful thoughtful curation.
This piece has now been delivered to it's new location - in Dubai
2023
March
The Other Art Fair
Truman brewery, Shoreditch, Londo
April
Potfest Sussex
Glynde Place 21-23 April
MAY
Tangible
An exciting group show in May, as part of
London Craft week,
with 7 other makers from Collect Open 2022
June
a 'Home' event!
Pathways
an art trail through ancient woodland on the Kent/Sussex border, co-hosted and curated by Dr Jane Sarre,
featuring a number of artists making work responding to this unique place.
I have made new work specifically for the setting which remains in place
Potfest by the Lake
Compton Verney
July
Celebrating Ceramics
Waterperry Gardens
Potfest in the Park
Hutton in the Forest, Penrith
- winning the Potfest prize with my raining bed means I will be back next year at my favourite venue!!
August
Potfest Suffolk
Haughly Park
September
Figure making workshop for London Potters
2nd September, Saatchi Gallery
November
Demonstration day
Southern Ceramic Group - 28th October
Art In Clay Farnham
Previously...
Collect Open 2022
Newcomers exhibition, Contemporary Ceramics, London
Potfest by the Lake, Compton Verney
Ceramic Art London
Art in Clay Farnham
Guest Speaker, Bucks Pottery & sculpture Society
Guest masterday figure making workshop, Kent Potters Association.
Celebrating Ceramics, Waterperry Gardens
Potfest in the Park, Hutton in the Forest
Art in Clay Windsor
Oxford Ceramic Fair
Potfest Student Award, Art in Clay Hatfield 2019
Bevere Graduate award 2019/2020
Please see Instagram @jemma.gowland for updates on future events
