A new exhibition titled “Surface and Structure: Contemporary Ceramics at the Edge of Form” will open on January 30, 2024, at The Sculpture Center located in University Circle, Cleveland, Ohio. The exhibition will be on display until March 28, 2024, and features innovative works by faculty and alumni from the Cleveland Institute of Art, Kent State University, and the University of Akron.
The exhibition challenges traditional perceptions of ceramics by highlighting the material’s potential as a structural and architectural element rather than merely a decorative or functional medium. The opening reception will take place from 17:30 to 20:00 on January 30, providing attendees with an opportunity to view the artwork and engage in discussions with the artists. Attendance is free, and parking will be available on site.
In this showcase, clay takes on an architectural quality, with artworks that explore themes of collapse, asymmetry, and surface tension. The artists featured in the exhibition emphasize how imperfection and instability can serve as creative forces rather than shortcomings. As Grace Chin, executive director of The Sculpture Center, noted: “These works resist being polite or perfected. The artists embrace instability, excess, and visual tension, allowing clay to become expressive, physical, and sometimes deliberately uncomfortable.”
Among the notable artists featured in the exhibition are Seuil Chung, Kristen Cliffel, PJ Hargraves, Drew Ippoliti, Peter Christian Johnson, Anna Kruse, Eva Kwong, Keenan O’Toole, Seth Nagelberg, and Phil Soucy. Their works collectively suggest a vision of architecture in flux, showcasing clay that folds, leans, and stretches under its own weight. This perspective challenges long-standing views of ceramics as tidy or contained, inviting viewers to reconsider the boundaries of the medium.
The exhibition promises to engage both art enthusiasts and the broader community, illustrating how contemporary ceramics can provoke thought and inspire dialogue about form, structure, and the creative process. As visitors explore these innovative pieces, they will witness firsthand the evolution of ceramic art and its capacity to transcend traditional definitions.
