Artist’s Reception, Saturday October 26, 6-8pm

Couturier Gallery is pleased to present JAY KVAPIL – NEW WORKS, an exhibition of clay works that feature evocatively scaled and vivaciously glazed forms that highlight Kvapil’s passion for traditional ceramics and experimental studio practices. This is Kvapil’s second solo show at the gallery. The exhibition runs from October 26 – November 30, with an artist’s opening reception Saturday, October 26, 6-8pm.

“Jay Kvapil – New Works” showcases the depth of his exploration into the boundaries of wheel thrown forms and intriguing crater glazes. The wheel is his “rabbit-hole” into a Lewis Carroll-like world of vibrant and alluring works of surprising contrast in size and spectrum of multilayered colors. They range from teacup size works to monumental bowls spanning 29” in diameter and long neck bottle forms reaching an impressive 24” in height demonstrating Kvapil’s technical brilliance in throwing clay. These forms become the “canvas” for the luscious crater glazes Kvapil has invented which vibrantly clothe each vessel resulting in a cornucopia of visual and textural sensations.

Kvapil trained in Southern Japan in the mid-70s where the Californian based artist became a Journeyman Potter after his apprenticeship studying the fine art of tea ceremony pottery. Kvapil completed graduate school in California and embarked on a career as a university teacher and administrator, culminating in becoming Acting Dean of the College of Arts at California State University Long Beach, where he remains today as Director of the School of Fine Arts.

Although his passion and involvement with clay had never wavered, it was but a few years ago that Kvapil segued back into the field of ceramics as a practicing artist. With great appreciation for the ancient techniques that he learned abroad, much of Kvapil’s inspiration comes from mid-twentieth century American pottery and the adventurous spirit of those who pushed the boundaries. With that same bravado he vigilantly conducts numerous experiments in his studio with kiln and glaze, the results being works that command attention through their subtle shaping and innovative surface treatments with the glazing and firing processes.

Jay Kvapil’s work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions including American Porcelain, New Dimensions in an Ancient Art, Smithsonian Institution, Renwick Gallery, Washington, D.C., 1980; Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan, 1985; On and Off the Wall: Shaped and Colored, Oakland Museum, CA, 1983 to 1985; Satellite Exhibition, Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA, 1990. Additionally, his work may be found in the public collections of the Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA and the San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA.

For further information and/or press photographs please contact the gallery: [email protected].