Peter Hayes

An abstract sculpture of a female head in patinated copper by Peter Hayes. Signed.

This obelisk shaped object is completely handmade, raku fired ceramic. The surface is textured with ridges and grooves which have a variegated patina due to ...

Vase designed by Peter Hayes, England, 1990s. Measures: H 28 cm/ 11''.  

This obelisk shaped object is completely handmade, fired ceramic. The black surface is textured with ridges and grooves which have a green patina due to a natural aging process the artist uses. Peter Hayes Black bottle ceramic Measures: 41 H x 7.50 W x 6 D in 104.14 H x 19.05 W x 15.24 D cm. About I have always been interested in the history of ceramics – why and how ‘things’ are made of clay. This interest was extended after I spent several years travelling through Africa working with various tribes and village potters and being intrigued how, with limited technology and basic tools, they were able to get such exquisite, beautiful surfaces. I found the same inherent skills in India, Nepal Japan and New Mexico. I tried to adopt the ideas picked up from my travels in my own work. By building up layers of textured clay combined with burnishing and polishing of surfaces, I try to achieve opposites of rough and smooth. I have been working on large scale ceramic forms which I have placed in the landscape. My main aim is that the work should not compete with the landscape, but evolve within the environment. With this in mind I have introduced other minerals into the Raku ceramic surface such as iron and copper. With the elements of time and erosion, the individual piece takes on its own developing surface. Recently, one of these large commissions has taken me again to India. My Client suggested I make it on site. Now I have discovered Udaipur in Rajasthan where I come for inspiration, when my studio in Bath in England gets cold in the winter months. This has introduced me to other artists and craftsmen enabling me to work with a range of different materials, such as glass, marble, stone and Damascus steel. In practice I go by the set of my pants. I have always worked this way, not going by any particular rules or methods. I find it joyful to work with many different materials. Each has its own character, its own limits, its own tolerance – some materials fight back, some play the game. Finally I think it’s the material that is in charge and it will only let you make what it wants. It is my job to push it to its limits and somehow an equilibrium is made between maker and material. Gallery Victor Armendariz – Chicago Public Collections Grassi Museum Leipzig Jerwood Foundation Crowne Estates, London Dorothy House, Bradford on Avon Scottish National Galley, Edinburgh Museum of Modern Art, Kingston, Jamaica Garderner Collection, Toronto Museum of Modern Art, Brussels, Belgium Silber Collection, California J.B Speed Museum, Louisville KY Selected Commissions 2016 Group of Sculptures, Artelier Art Advisory. Standing Stone, Private collection, Bath Sculptures, Studio Reed, London. 2015 6 Sculptures for Yacht, Mark Berryman Design. Wall Sculpture, Private Collection, Kensington, London Wall mounted Disc, Private Collection, Wadebridge, Cornwall 2014 6ft Raku Wall...

Raku red TOTEM sculpture, axe form with copper sun disc inset. Raku fired, mixed body clay. Signature to base. In good condition.