Claire Curneen’s ceramics

Claire Curneen’s work is distinct for its figurative representation. As one of the UK’s foremost ceramic artists Curneen draws us into a world of narrative, where the tension between the real and the imagined is played out before us. Her ceramic figures have an imposing presence which tap into our desires, fears and mysteries. They are highly visceral, referencing Catholic imagery from the early Italian Renaissance. Porcelain, terracotta and black stoneware create an exquisite textural finish to these works, with dribbles of glaze and flashes of gold to accentuate their rich qualities. These figures bear bold narratives of human experiences and explore themes around death, rebirth and the sublime, which are both subtle and dramatic.

Tending the Fires 2016. (detail) Porcelain. 2.3 metres x 40cm x 50cm. photo: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd

Tending the Fires 2016. (detail) Porcelain. 2.3 metres x 40cm x 50cm. photo: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd

Bird Figure, 60cm x 18cm, 2013. Preaching to the birds, 60cm x 20cm. photography: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd

Angel (detail), 69cm, 2003. photo: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd

House, 43cm x 44cm, 2013. Over my dead body (St Sebastian), 75cm x 23cm, 2013. photography: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd

Angel (detail), 75cm, 2005. photo: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd

Copyright: clairecurneen.com

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