Jean-Nicolas GERARD

View in collection Jean-Nicolas was born in Brazzaville (Congo) but has lived in the South of France (Grasse, Marseille, Plateau de Valensole) since 1961. He started studying ceramics in 1978 and was Jean Biagini's student at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence. He also trained in Claire Bogino's studio. He briefly worked with stoneware before creating his first slipware studio (wood kiln). Since 1983, his studio is situated in the centre of the village of Valensole. He has travelled widely visiting women potters in Burkina Faso in Africa (1990), and has since visited Japan, China, USA, Australia and Korea. In 2009 he was a demonstrator at the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth. "Without any doubt, terre vernissée (slipware) is a traditional technique. I love its ability to bring joy into everyday life, on the kitchen table as well as in the garden. This is why I do accept and use this tradition in my work as a potter. But I am also questioning this tradition. Today, terre vernissée is a living technique, bringing me emotions as intense as those that I get from contemporary painting or Asian ceramics which nurture me."

Details

• Dates: b. 1954