About
I am originally from Barcelona where I studied Product Design and Ceramics and where I set up my first studio. Then, I moved the studio with my parter to Mexico pulled by their ceramic skills, the understanding of the pre-columbian ceramics and the interest to know how ceramics are made in another culture.
After 4 years working with ceramics in Mexico and having learnt how to work with very limited resources, I set up my own studio in the UK in 2012. Mexico was an outstanding opportunity to gain experience and courage to face all the elements of making ceramics from another point of view. Working from scratch. Making our own clay, gas kiln, glazes, tools...
Porcelain thrown and fired at 1.300ºC is the body that I use. After years using terracotta in Spain, I started to introduce stoneware until porcelain was the chosen body. It gives me what I need, mainly the whiteness and the strength to be fired in high temperatures. I need whiteness and temperature to apply the glazes. Glazes are my passion.
I understand that what the viewer sees first is the surface, so glazes are a crucial factor for me. As important as the shape, if not more. The glazes are the ones that will give the finish, personality, strength, electricity or peace, excitement… to the piece. Porcelain is like a white canvas ready to apply the glazes that I had been researching.
I am trying very hard to summarise all my feelings and ceramic convictions in producing well balanced large jars or vessels. I have chosen the shape of the vessel because of their human tradition and history. Jars have been always with us, since Prehistoric times. I strongly believe that this is a very intrinsically attached shape to the humanity that everybody understands. I have chosen this shape to apply my glazes and all the research behind them.
The main inspiration comes from the classic shapes of the Roman amphoras to the Greek and Egyptian vessels, the sublime Korean Moon Jar or the Pre-columbian vessels. I am fascinated how this ancient shape persist and survive together with the evolution of the humanity and the cultural links that they have, I feel like it links the humanity in one object/shape.
I have a particular interest in a type of glazes called “oil spot”. Oil Spot glazes are from the family of the tenmoku glazes originally discovered during the Song Dynasty, 10th century, China. These incredible challenging and technically demanding glazes have so much expression and richness. They are ideal for the type of work that I am after. A large classic shape with strong glazes.
I make large vessels because of their statement and presence. The perception is almost spiritual when you see them. They have a strange energy that captivates me over and over. I find on large vessels the best opportunity for the glazes to develop and express themselves freely and fully. A large clean, classic, quiet and humble shape with the power of the glazes is a very exciting concept for me.
I like to contrast the classic shape with new and sophisticated materials that today are in the market. I keep the legacy of the potters from the past but with the modern technology. Starting from the highly reliable raw materials for the glazes and the chemical bonds that they produce, the so technically advanced spray guns or the precision of the pottery wheels and kilns. They allow us to go a step further in the production of ceramics.
CV
1980 Born in Barcelona, Catalonia
Lives and works in North Yorkshire, UK
EDUCATION
2006 Elisava (Pompeu Fabra University), Barcelona, Spain, BA (Hons) Product Design
COURSES AND TRAINING
2010-2011 IDEFT Institute Guadalajara, Mexico, Ceramics
IDEFT Institute Guadalajara, Mexico, Firing Assistant
2010 Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico, Mata Ortiz Ceramic Technique
2009 Helado Te Estudi de Ceràmica, Guadalajara, Mexico, Gas Kiln Construction
2008-2009 Escola Industrial, Barcelona, Spain, Ceramics
2008 Esther Ramos, Barcelona, Spain, Firing Techniques Workshop
2007-2008 Escola Massana, Barcelona, Spain, Ceramics
Chisato Kuroki, Ametlla de Mar, Tarragona, Raku Firings
Jornades de Ceràmica Celrà, Girona, Spain, Workshop
Taller de Ceràmica 4x1, Barcelona, Spain, Apprenticeship
2007 Escola de Ceràmica de la Bisbal, Girona, Spain, Ceramics
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016-present Albert Montserrat Ceramics, Pickering, UK
2015-2016 Richmond Adult Community College, London, UK, Curriculum Technician (Ceramics)
2013-2016 Albert Montserrat Ceramics, London, UK
2009-2012 Helado Te Estudi de Ceràmica, Guadalajara, Mexico, Partnership
2007-2009 Helado Te Estudi de Ceràmica, Barcelona, Spain, Partnership
2008 Patent, Barcelona, Spain, Columbarium made with Ash Glazes and Ceramics
2006-2008 Josep Carreté Arquitectura, Barcelona, Spain, Draughtsman and Ceramic Sculpture
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 "New Ceramics", Beaux Arts, Bath, UK
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Art Miami, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, Miami, US
Collect, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London, UK
London Art Fair, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London, UK
"Carry on Creativity", Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London, UK
"All the Fading Landscape", The Garden Gallery, Hampshire, UK
2019 "Post Creacions", ACC Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
"Young Masters Art Prize", 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London, UK
"Summer of Ceramics", Doddington Hall, Lincoln, UK
Art in Clay, Hatfield, London, UK
Potfest in the Park, Cumbria, UK
2018 Ceramics Biennial "Angelina Alós", Can Tintoré Museum, Barcelona, Spain
Beaux Arts, Bath, UK
Centre of Ceramic Art - CoCA shop, York, UK
"Rhapsody in Blue", Hexagon Classic Design, London, UK
Miar Arts, Brighton, UK
Art in Clay, Hatfield, London, UK
Potfest in the Park, Cumbria, UK
"A slice of Yorkshire Creativity", Bils&Rye, Kirkbymoorside, UK
Maiden Bridge Gallery, Lancaster, UK
2017 "The Dark Side of the Moon", Hexagon Classic Design, London, UK
"Porcelain Perfection", Bils & Rye, Kirkbymoorside, UK
Art in Clay, Hatfield, UK
"A Whiter Shade of Pale", Hexagon Classic Design, London, UK
The Round House Gallery, Derbyshire, UK
Miar Arts, Brighton, UK
Cut The Mustard Gallery, Langholm, Scotland
Potfest in the Park, Cumbria, UK
Pots & Plants, Powys, Wales
2016 Cambridge Art Fair, Bils & Rye Gallery, Cambridge, UK
Ceramics in the City, London, UK
Bath Contemporary, Bath, UK
"Summer Exhibition", Sculpt Gallery, Colchester, UK
Art in Clay, Hatfield, UK
"Meet the Artisans", Bentalls Kingston, UK
2015 "The Art of Firing", Sculpt Gallery, Colchester, UK
The Loughborough Hotel Gallery, London, UK
Morley Gallery, London, UK
HIVE, Bils & Rye Gallery, Harrogate, UK
"Ceramics in the City", London, UK
Art in Clay, Hatfield, UK
"Prize Exhibition", RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, UK
Erwood Station Gallery, Powys, Wales
2014 Mall Galleries, London, UK
Morley Gallery, London, UK
Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, UK
Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington, UK
Riverside Gallery, Richmond, UK
The Spring Gallery, Hampshire, UK
2013 National Funeral Exhibition, Birmingham, UK
2011 IDEFT Institute, Guadalajara, Mexico
2010 "Mexico's Nacional Ceramic Competition", Guadalajara, Mexico
2009 Bbrownie Coffee Gallery, Guadalajara, Mexico
2008 ADI-FAD, Barcelona, Spain
Roques Blanques Cemetery, Barcelona, Spain
2007 Funermostra, València, Spain
Villegas Ceràmiques, Barcelona, Spain
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2020 Alcora's Ceramic International Contest CICA2020, Alcora, Spain - First Prize
2019 Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize - Highly Commended Award, London
and Young Masters Lerouge Knight Art Award, London, UK
2018 Ceramics Biennial "Angelina Alós", Barcelona - First Prize
2015 London Potters Annual Exhibition, London - First Prize "Best in Show"
2014 London Potters Annual Exhibition, London - First Prize "Best in Show"
London Potters Annual Exhibition, London - Visitor's Vote
PUBLICATIONS & PRESS
2021 Antonio Vivas, Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol. 158, p. 92-93
Viewing Room, The Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London, UK
Wladimir Vivas, Infoceramica, "Blue Night Vessel" Calendar 2021
2020 Antonio Vivas, Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol. 156, p. 73-75
Collect Talks, Ceramics Speaker for The Cynthia Corbett Gallery
TerrArt, Contemporary Ceramics Magazine, vol. 56, p. 14
2019 Antonio Vivas, "Galería", Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol.152, p.4
Wladimir Vivas, “Concursos”, Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol. 151, p. 90
Infoceramica.com, “Artwork of the Week”, Digital Magazine, March 2019
2018 La Premsa del Baix: Cultura, November 2018
El Periódico de Barcelona, October 2018
Scarva pottery supplies, Calendar 2018
2017 Scarva pottery supplies, Featured Vessel on Online Catalogue
House & Garden, "Inspirational Interiors", July 2017, p. 149
Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser, March 2017
Photographic report "In the studio" by Ben Boswell
2016 Ceramic Review, vol. 280, July/August
2015 Wladimir Vivas, Revista Internacional Ceramica, vol. 139
2009 Wladimir Vivas, "Panorama de Actualidad", Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol.114, p. 66
Wladimir Vivas, "Breves", Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol.112, p.81
Wladimir Vivas, “Concursos”, Revista Internacional Cerámica, vol. 151, 2019, p.90
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Barcelona Design Museum, Barcelona, Spain
Alcora's Museum of Ceramics, Alcora, Spain
Can Tinturé Museum, Barcelona, Spain
Private Collection, Doha, Qatar
Hutton-in-the-Forest, Cumbria, UK
Reliquaries, Marcs i Urnes Bach, Barcelona, Spain
Trophies, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico
Public Sculpture in Government Building, Josep Carreté Arquitectura, Tarragona, Spain
COLLABORATIONS
Glaze Consultant, ASET Stiftung Ltd. Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Berlin, Germany