Photos and reporting by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, USA.  If you enjoyed this post, then give me a “like” on my Facebook page.      There is additional information about Beachfront Pottery on my web site.

The Venue

 

 

The exhibit titled “Paul Gauguin: The Art of Invention” was open from July 21-September 15, 2019 in the St Louis Art Museum.  The photo on the top is the entrance to the St Louis Art Museum.

 

 

 

 

The second photo is the entrance to the exhibit itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Call for Entry

This was a single artist exhibit selected from the works of Paul Gauguin (1848-1903).  Artworks from the St Louis Art Museum and Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek (a Danish art museum).

The Ceramic Art Pieces

The main pattern of the exhibit was to show the art works of Paul Gauguin next to art works that inspired him or affected his artistic development.  Besides paintings, there were several ceramic items that Gauguin completed;  the stories behind his ceramic innovations, the  list of influences were very illuminating.  My impression was that I see the work of an artist who kept an open mind about artistic styles and approaches without prejudice.    All photos of the art works and the narratives pictured here were part of the exhibit.

 

Ceramic innovation #1: Ceramic vessels where the decorations and features were inspired by paintings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovation #2: Impressions from unrefined Brittany appear as unrefined decorations and features on these vases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovation #3: Using biblical motifs for decoration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovation #4: simplicity and naturalism of Japanese pottery as inspiration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovation #5: decorating a piece using inspiration by the native culture of Martinique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovation #6: abstract decoration inspired by Ernest Chaplet.

The bottom of the bottle shows the dripping glaze decoration.

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovations #7 and #8: interplay of sculptural volume and flat surfaces, and the design of unique shapes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceramic innovation #9: inspiration by Peruvian/Andean functional pottery.

 

 

 

 

In the front is a Gauguin vase, and in the back there is a Peruvian vase.  On top of these images, there is the fact that Gauguin grew up in Peru, giving the item he saw in hi childhood a special power of inspiration.