CERAMIC VISIONS - Exhibition AocG

Heide Warlamis founded the ‘Austrian Gallery for Ceramics’ in 1981, at a time characterized by changes in art and a new direction in design. The collector, who is also an artist herself, used her passion and expertise to assemble a unique selection of contemporary ceramic art from the 1980s. Established artists were shown alongside emerging talents in numerous exhibitions. These included Kiki Kogelnik, an internationally renowned interdisciplinary artist; Kurt Ohnsorg, a pioneer of modern ceramic art; and Colin Pearson, a British ceramic great. What they all had in common was their innovative approach to clay, which manifested in extraordinary sculptures, visionary objects, decorative jewelry, and bold designs for ceramic vessels.

Some participants of the International Ceramics Symposium Gmunden, founded by Kurt Ohnsorg and continued by the Academy of Ceramics Gmunden (AoCG) since 2022, were featured in the exhibitions in Vienna. The AoCG is an innovative concept that enriches the local art scene and underscores the importance of ceramic art in both cultural history and the contemporary art world. The widely recognized figures of the ceramics scene, such as Franz Josef Altenburg, Jody Baral, Gerda Gruber, Anton Raidel, Kurt Spurey, and Aisaku Suzuki, among others, participated in the Vienna shows of the 1980s and impressed visitors at the time with their works.

The exhibition at the Gmundner Keramik Manufaktur presents an impressive selection of sculptural pieces. The expressive ceramics showcase the diversity of possibilities in terms of shapes, colors, and material techniques. The exhibition invites visitors to be inspired by the sculptural works, with their playful combinations of functionality and art. It provides deep insights into the creative impulses and processes of a generation of artists in transition, as well as the bold experimentation of a creative era that continues to have an impact today.