Non-objective Ceramic Sculpture

VocabularySculpture ~ The art or practice of shaping figures or designs or in-the-round or in relief, as by chiseling marble, modeling clay, or casting in metal.

In-the-round (also called freestanding) sculpture ~ three-dimensional work of art that is surrounded on all sides by negative space.

Michelangelo’s David is an example of a freestanding or in-the-round sculpture.It is meant to be viewed from all sides

Relief sculpture ~ a work of art in which forms project from a flat surface.

There are two kinds of relief sculpture:

• Bas-relief or low relief, in which forms project only slightly from the background. These are often used in architectural ornamentation and to decorate coins.

• High relief, in which forms extend further out into space. In high relief, because forms project out into space, cast shadows become an important part of the sculpture.

Bas-relief

Louise Nevelson’s Moontide is an example of high relief

Kinetic sculpture ~ sculpture that actually moves in space due to natural forces, mechanics or electricity

George Rickey’s One Up One Down Oblique -Variation III is an example of kinetic sculpture

Vocabulary continued

Non-objective art - Artworks having no recognizable subject matter

The thick application of glaze is a notable characteristic of this non-objective piece.

Repetition of geometric forms give this relief sculpture both unity and variety.

Torch Song by Susan Budge

Keyhole by Peter Callas

Untitled Sculpture by Paul Soldner

Delphi by Carolyn Judson

Curtain of Dream by Isamu Noguchi

Design for Blue V1 by Gabriel Marquez

Object 011 by Jean Louis Frenk

The Shape of War & Peace

by Ken Turner