Sustainable Clay

Titled ‘Sustainable Clay’, this new exhibition explores the environmental impact of this naturally occurring material. Potters and artists have long valued clay for its connection to a particular place, the very earth beneath our feet, but they are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of this material. From industrial mining to international transportation, the toxicity of glaze ingredients, and the intense energy and heat required every time the kiln is fired, contemporary artists are questioning the sustainability of clay and adapting their work in response.

In this new exhibition, visitors can expect to see the artists’ experimental approaches to clay as a sculptural material while emphasising sustainability in their creative processes. Some artists are digging local clay to work with or finding more sustainable ways to fire their kilns, others are no longer firing their clay or choosing not to glaze their work, and some are using their ceramic skills to work with alternative materials.

Extraordinary ceramic heritage

Matthew Jarratt, Independent Curator and Visiting Professor of Creative Practice at Newcastle University, said: “I have worked with many of these artists in the past and was interested in how some were sourcing local clay, others were looking at more sustainable kilns to fire their pieces- or indeed not firing them at all, and others are using their ‘ceramic skills’ to work with alternative materials which may be recycled. It is fantastic that we will be able to include studio interviews on video with all the artists as part of the exhibition, and I hope that visitors will see some fantastic and experimental artwork and that we will also demonstrate that these artists  are wrestling with the challenges of making artwork that is sustainable and environmentally aware.”

Julie Milne, Chief Curator of Galleries at North East Museums, said: “We’re excited to present this new exhibition, highlighting the environmentally conscious practices of artists from the North East and beyond. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to highlight the extraordinary ceramic heritage of the North East through the collections of the Laing Art Gallery and works from the Shipley's nationally significant collection of British Studio Ceramics.”

North East links

The artists featured in this exhibition include Wolfgang Weileder, Laurie Powell, Katie Cuddon, Shitanshu Mauyra, Andrew Burton, Lady Kitt, Rosie McLachlan, Brigitte Jurack, Paul Scott, Xiang Yang, Eva Masterman and Bethany Stead.

Each artist has a link to the North East of England through study, teaching, residencies, or commissions, reflecting the important role of Newcastle University’s Fine Art Department as a centre for ceramic creativity and innovation. As this exhibition will show, the North East provides them with a unique context – a place where the industrial production of ceramics once thrived due to plentiful supplies of coal, the clay that was dug up as a by-product, and the waterways and railways that transported raw materials and finished products around the globe. Clay continues to be a global commodity, and sustainability is now an international concern.      

‘Sustainable Clay’ is open from 1 February - 3 May 2025, Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm. Entry is free. Visit the Hatton Gallery website for more information: https://hattongallery.org.uk/