Stark Contrasts: Black and White Ceramics from RAM’s Collection

February 24 – May 5, 2013

Edward Eberle
Wheeled Sage, 2002
Porcelain with terra sigilata glaze
Racine Art Museum, Gift of Karen Johnson Boyd
Photography: Jon Bolton

This exhibition, one of a series of exhibitions at RAM showcasing work dominated by a black and white color scheme, juxtaposes ceramic sculpture from the last 40 years. This show offers a selection that includes established artists—who RAM has collected in depth—as well as emerging talents of the ceramic sculpture scene.

Whether narrative scenes or abstract forms, the sculptures featured in Stark Contrasts explore the formal and metaphoric potential of intense color and dramatic contrasts. The variety of approaches reflects the innovation and ingenuity of artists working with clay who are investigating the symbolic and practical use of color and dynamic composition.

Artists such as David Regan and Ed Eberle combine detailed black and white imagery with shaped surfaces. Christie Brown and Elizabeth Lurie explore the potential of using all white for narrative or functional forms. At the other end of the spectrum, Irvin Tepper emphasizes blended shades of black and white in his dream-like nonfunctional teapots.

More About the Exhibition

Exhibition Notes (PDF)

Ceramics Glossary (PDF)

Press Room

Artists in the Exhibition

Daniel J. Anderson, Gordon Baldwin, Christie Brown, Bruce Cochrane, Claude Conover, Philip Cornelius, Harris Deller, Richard DeVore, Paul Dresang, Ruth Duckworth, Edward Eberle, Susan Evans, Ken Ferguson, Robert Forman, Leopold Foulem, Verne J. Funk, Peter Gourfain, Chris Gustin, Anne E. Hirondelle, Nicholas Homoky, Yoshiro Ideka, Les Lawrence, James Lovera, Elizabeth Lurie, Tony Marsh, Karen Thuesen Massaro, Beverly Mayeri, Jennifer McCurdy, Matthew Metz, Richard Notkin, Jeffrey Oestreich, Dan Pilcher, David Regan, Nicholas Rena, Mary Roehm, Amy Sabrina, David Shaner, Mark Shapiro, Patrick W. Siler, Chris Spanovich, Robert Sperry, David A. Stabley, Christopher R. Staley, Irvin S. Tepper, Jason Walker, Kurt Weiser, and Liz Wolf