Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge has recently held a major solo ceramics exhibition of the renowned artist, Jennifer Lee.
It was the first solo presentation of Lee’s work in a UK public institution since 1994. The show included 40 pieces made from different periods of Lee’s entire career. There were also pots which she made especially for the exhibition at Kettle’s Yard.
Scottish born potter, Jennifer Lee studied ceramics and tapestry at Edinburgh College of Arts. She then spent eight months travelling on scholarship to the USA where she researched South-West Indian prehistoric ceramics and visited contemporary West Coast potters. From 1980 she worked in ceramics at the Royal College of Arts London.
working method
Jennifer Lee is most famous for her handbuilt pots, made with coloured clay. She starts by pinching the base of the pot, which is one of the earliest form of clay making. She’ll then add coils to build and shape the pot. Jennifer uses metallic oxides, which she adds to the clay and leaves them unglazed, creating smooth colour reach surface.
Jennifer Lee has been exhibiting her work internationally since 1970’s and is represented in major public collections worldwide. Her ceramics exhibitions were held at Victoria and Albert Museum London, Sokyo Gallery Kyoto, Frank Lloyd Gallery Los Angeles, Graham Gallery New York, just to name a few.
In 2018 she was awarded a prestigious Loewe Craft Prize.
