Joanna Howells

“My work concentrates on form and texture. I aim to make pieces that appear simple yet have a softness, a freedom and a sculptural quality. The work varies in size from small, intimate domestic ware to large-scale pieces.

I work in porcelain, partly because it is such a beautiful material in itself – so fine, white and translucent - and because its smoothness allows the use of subtle textures. This is achieved by reducing the clay body to a slip, which is applied to the thrown piece then drawn into with a variety of combs and other tools, including my fingers. Many of the pieces are then altered by stretching, cutting or impressing, to escape the inevitable circle that the wheel imposes on a thrown piece. Recently I have started working at the edges of pieces during the throwing process, for a soft, weathered, timeless effect.”

Joanna Howells

1980-1983	Cambridge University, Medical Sciences Tripos (B.A.)
1983-1984	Sir John Cass School of Art
1984-1986	Harrow College Of Higher Education. H.N.D in Studio Pottery. Graduated with Distinction.

Exhibitions & Events

2014	Solo Showcase, Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen. Solo Showcase, Makers Guild in Wales, Cardiff. "Friendship Forged in Fire: British Ceramics in America," American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA), California, USA
2013	Awarded Arts Council Grant to develop work towards exhibitions entitled ‘The Enduring and the Ephemeral’ Solo Exhibition, Galeri, Caernarfon. Feb-March
2012	Gallery St Ives, Tokyo Contemporary Applied Arts, London. Tradition and Innovation: 50 Years of Harrow, Apr - May
2011	‘Select 2’ Gallery Top, Derbyshire. January Contemporary Ceramics, London. Showcase exhibition. February Ceramic Art London, Royal College of Art, Feb Lund Gallery, Yorkshire ‘Dining Rites’. August New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Summer Exhibition St Ives Ceramics, St Ives. Christmas Exhibition
2010	Contemporary Makers Showcase, National Museum Wales, June – August The Octagon at Whichford, Guest Potter of the Month, June Ceramic Art London, Royal College of Art, Feb Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Selected Welsh Potters. Until July 2010 St David’s Hall – Christmas Exhibition Orton International Cone Box Exhibition, Baker University, California ‘Table Manners’ – Crafts Council Gallery, London

Publications

20 British Potters, byKoi Isaka, to be published in Japan June 2014
“Contemporary Ceramics” Emmanuel Cooper (2009)
“Living in Wales” Portraits of Persons of significance living in Wales – David Hurn. Serern publications (2005)
“The Ceramics Book” Ceramic Review Publications (2006)
“Porcelain” Jack Doherty (2002)
“Contemporary Porcelain” and New Edition, Peter Lane (1996)
“Porcelain” Caroline Whyman (1994)
“The Potter’s Directory of Shape and Form” Neal French (1998)
“The Buyer’s Guide to Studio Ceramics” Crafts Council Publications (1999)
“Tableware from Studio and Workshop” Karen Ann Wood (1999)
“A Potter’s Dictionary of Materials and Techniques” Frank and Janet Hamer. (2002) A &C Black

Permanent Collections

Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Major piece acquired in 2013
Crafts Council Collection
Stoke City Museum. Contemporary Ceramics Collection

Commissions

2013	Hampstead Theatre. Pieces for #the arrest of Ai Wei-wei an new play by Howard Brenton
1996	Limited Edition for the Greenwich Theatre production of Macbeth
1997	Limited Edition of 14 pieces to commemorate the opening season of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Grants

2013	Awarded a project grant from Arts Council Wales towards an exhibition ‘The Enduring and the Ephemeral’ an arts science collaboration with the Botanic Gardens of Wales, Edinburgh and Kew.