Artist of the month
Wendy Kershaw etches intricate narrative illustrations onto porcelain, her forms ranging from simple panels and vessels to books with moveable pages, folding screens and clocks.
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The celebration of domestic rituals has been a central theme in her narratives, with more recent work encompassing folk sayings and the characterization of the seven deadly sins as birds. Her world is one of small acts of everyday life revealed in their full importance, defined in bold monochrome composition, subtle detail, quirky, sombre and humorous. |
Wendy graduated with first class honours from Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, followed by an MA in Ceramics at Cardiff and several years working as an artist in residence at schools and lecturing, before returning to Glasgow as the technician at the Ceramics Department of The Glasgow School of Art.
In 2006, Wendy was awarded a creative development grant from the Scottish Arts Council.
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The grant enabled her to take up an invitation for two residencies in China: one month as artist in residence at the Experimental Porcelain Factory in the Chinese porcelain capital of Jingdezhen followed by three months in The Shanghai Pottery Workshop. |
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This culminated in a new body of work, exhibited first in Shanghai, and moving to The Glasgow School of Art in early 2007. Whilst in China, Wendy’s work was featured in The Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, and selected for The China Ceramic Museum’s permanent collection.
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The Scottish Arts Council funding gave Wendy the opportunity to experiment with different materials, developing new methods of illustrating and extended her vocabulary on clay. |
Working on a larger scale, introducing areas of colour and decals has enlivened her work. Experience of daily life and culture in China provided fresh ideas for her illustrations.
Wendy has been invited to return to China for a residency at the FuLe International Ceramic Art Museums. |