Friday, 10 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Culture and Arts > How Black Women Ceramicists Shaped Art History
Culture and Arts

How Black Women Ceramicists Shaped Art History

Last updated: September 30, 2025 2:41 pm
Share
How Black Women Ceramicists Shaped Art History
SHARE

An illuminating exhibition at the Ford Foundation Gallery highlights the significant contributions of Black women artists to the medium of ceramics. The exhibition titled Body Vessel Clay: Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art showcases three generations of artists, with a foundational nod to the remarkable Ladi Dosei Kwali. Born in 1925, Kwali was renowned for her creation of water pots during the 1950s to 1970s in Abuja, Nigeria. By intertwining the practical nature of these household vessels with the artistic recognition of clay, she established an impactful legacy.

Her three prominent water pots, crafted between 1959 and 1962, utilize a traditional coil technique, followed by a meticulous burnishing process that yields a soft, earthy sheen. The first gallery provides context through archival photographs and publications that document both Nigerian pottery and Kwali’s distinguished career, highlighting her practice as deeply rooted in community yet recognized on the global stage.

Kwali’s artistic journey originated from indigenous Gwari pottery traditions that she absorbed in her youth. Later, at the Abuja Pottery Centre, she fused these traditional techniques with modern practices, including decorative glazing and kiln firing, while maintaining her commitment to handcrafting. As the first woman to excel at the pottery training center, Kwali opened doors for other Black women artists to pursue their artistic voices internationally.

Installation view of Nigerian Pottery publications
Installation view of Sylvia Leith-Ross’s book Nigerian Pottery (1970) and a copy of Nigeria Magazine (1961) in Body Vessel Clay: Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art at the Ford Foundation Gallery (photo: Alexandra M. Thomas/Hyperallergic)

The exhibition’s second segment focuses on contemporary ceramic works inheriting Kwali’s legacy. Halima Audu, who began her artistic journey in the 1950s, illustrates this continuity with her intricately designed jar. Its dark glaze and geometric patterns showcase how local hand-building techniques evolved within modern studio settings. Alongside Audu’s work, Magdalene Odundo’s 1979 piece reflects additional growth in this legacy, integrating new sculptural dialogues into the lineage of ceramic artistry.

See also  The Art of Making a Kentucky Derby Hat

Among the celebrated contemporary artists in the exhibition are Simone Leigh and Adebunmi Gbadebo, who draw inspiration from Kwali and Odundo. Leigh’s recent creation, “Village Series” (2023-2024), features a stoneware sculpture reminiscent of the intricate braiding traditions of Black women, embodying both personal and cultural connections. Similarly, Gbadebo’s piece “Sam” (2023), constructed from soil sourced from True Blue Plantation in South Carolina, melds themes of heritage and visceral memory through the inclusion of human hair, transforming the ceramic into a poignant memorial.

Installation view of Phoebe Collings-James's Infidel series
Installation view of Body Vessel Clay: Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art at the Ford Foundation Gallery. Pictured: Phoebe Collings-James, “Infidel (Scorpion),” “Infidel (knot song),” and “Infidel (virtuosic)” (all 2025), glazed stoneware ceramic (photo: Alexandra M. Thomas/Hyperallergic)

Notably, Phoebe Collings-James’s Infidel series (2025) occupies an adjacent space. Her work, featuring slightly elongated abstract figures, prompts exploration of themes such as vulnerability and resistance through the lens of ceramic making. The delicate balance of her pieces offers a compelling dialogue on strength and fragility.

The exhibition space hosts Nontsikelelo Mutiti’s striking graphic patterns that dominate both the entry and exit point. These geometric formations resonate beautifully with the textured surfaces of the showcased vessels. Rather than being mere decorative elements, these impressions symbolize the labor, expertise, and innovative spirit of Black women artists as they navigate and expand the boundaries of ceramic art. Ranging from Kwali’s foundational works to contemporary expressions by Audu, Odundo, Leigh, Gbadebo, and others, the exhibition presents an impactful narrative of continuity and historical resonance.

Installation view of the entrance to Body Vessel Clay
Installation view at the entrance to Body Vessel Clay: Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art at the Ford Foundation Gallery (photo: Sebastian Bach)

Body Vessel Clay: Black Women, Ceramics & Contemporary Art remains at the Ford Foundation Gallery, located at 320 East 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, until December 6. The exhibition is curated by Jareh Das.

See also  In 'The Quilters,' Men in a Missouri Prison Sew Gifts for Children — Colossal

This rewritten article maintains the key phrases, HTML formatting, and overall structure from the original while ensuring the content is unique and crafted for a WordPress platform.

TAGGED:ArtBlackCeramicistshistoryShapedWomen
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Zendaya Makes an Entrance in Paris in a High-Shine Metallic Mini Zendaya Makes an Entrance in Paris in a High-Shine Metallic Mini
Next Article Retired NYPD detective, beloved hockey coach Peter Gianatiempo remembered after tragic suicide Retired NYPD detective, beloved hockey coach Peter Gianatiempo remembered after tragic suicide
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

Just a Coincidence? – Econlib

Human beings have an innate tendency to recognize patterns, a trait that has likely provided…

July 9, 2025

Suicide rate is low during the holidays, but the holiday-suicide myth persists

The myth that suicides peak during the holiday season is a persistent misconception that continues…

December 6, 2024

What Is A Cortisol Cocktail, Adrenal Fatigue? How Legit Are Are They?

Wellness influencers on social media and the Internet have been buzzing about the trend of…

July 5, 2025

Arsenal vs. PSG how to watch, odds: Free 2025 UEFA Champions League picks, prediction for Wednesday, May 7

Paris Saint-Germain is on the brink of securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League…

May 7, 2025

Last Week’s Best Dressed Men Brushed Up On Their Fall Basics

Fall fashion is in full swing, and Black male celebrities are leading the way with…

September 3, 2024

You Might Also Like

Women Lead the Way in Flanders TV Production Despite Setbacks
Entertainment

Women Lead the Way in Flanders TV Production Despite Setbacks

October 10, 2025
A Tandem Dance of the Seen and Imagined
Culture and Arts

A Tandem Dance of the Seen and Imagined

October 9, 2025
Smithsonian Institution Postpones Prestigious Portrait Exhibition
Culture and Arts

Smithsonian Institution Postpones Prestigious Portrait Exhibition

October 9, 2025
30 Bob Ross Paintings Head to Auction to Support Public Media 
Culture and Arts

30 Bob Ross Paintings Head to Auction to Support Public Media 

October 9, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?