Open Studio Exhibition 2023

PLUMSTEAD OPEN STUDIOS – Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd September 2023

The Harlequin Gallery will be taking part in Plumstead Artists Open Studios for the second consecutive year, with all venues open from 11am until 6pm on both days. All of the items at the Harlequin, with the exception of new work from Lisa Sjukur, will not be available online before or during the Open Studios weekend. Therefore, if ceramics below are of interest it will be necessary to come to the gallery over the weekend.

Besides the Harlequin Gallery there are 46 other artists taking part in the Open studios weekend in 23 locations in Plumstead, South East London. If you do come along to the Harlequin, it would be good if you did call in at some of the other venues, if time allows. Details can be found at PLUMSTEAD OPEN STUDIOS

PATRICK SARGENT (1956 – 1998)

It has become increasingly difficult to obtain items of Patrick’s work, as avid collectors are reluctant to part with anything that they have. Therefore it’s with pleasure that I am able to offer the four items above that have already resulted in enquiries. For those of you unfamiliar with Patrick and his work, further information can be found at PATRICK SARGENT

WILLIAM MARSHALL (1923 – 2007)

I might be biased but to for me Bill Marshall is the finest British studio potter/ceramicist of the 20th Century. Born and bred in St. Ives, Bill became the first apprentice taken on at the Leach Pottery in 1938. Bill was a superb thrower and he not only become the foreman and teacher of most of the students that followed him but also produced some very fine pots of his own and for Bernard Leach while working at the pottery.

After his retirement in 1977, Bill built a two-chambered oil and wood fired kiln in nearby Lelant where most of the work available over Open Studio weekend was made. Other pots by Bill will be available, together with other work associated with the Leach Pottery.

Further information about Bill can be found on this website at BILL MARSHALL

URSULA MOMMENS (1908 – 2010)

Above is a selection of some of Ursula’s pots available over Open Studios weekend. Most of these were originally exhibited and sold at one of the exhibitions of Ursula’s work that I held at the Harlequin Gallery during her lifetime and have made their way back to be offered again. I didn’t get to know Ursula until she was in her late 80s but meeting her was always a joy and after a few moments you always forgot her age. To me her functional pots always brighten up the everyday just as Ursula did. For more information about Ursula please go to URSULA MOMMENS

LISA SJUKUR – Recent Wood-fired Pottery

This exhibition of 21 pots fired in one of Oxford University’s kilns in Wytham Woods during early July is the second exhibition of Lisa’s work that I have held at the Harlequin Gallery since I first exhibited her work at last year’s Open Studios.

Unlike all of the other work available over the weekend, this will go online on the “Recent Acquisitions” page of the website at 4pm (BST) on Friday 1st September and will be available on a first come first served basis from that point. Items can be viewed; paid for and collected over Open Studios weekend but can also be posted at cost.

CLEARANCE STOCK

When going through my storage space there always seem to be miscellaneous items that are of interest but really need to go at this time in the gallery’s life. These include the pots above that will be on offered at £75 or less (mostly £50 and under) over the coming weekend. During the course of this week I will add further images if time permits.

OTHER BRITISH STUDIO CERAMICS & ART

Images of items available over the coming weekend will be added below over the next few days.

JAPANESE CERAMICS

Last but not least there will be a wide selection of Japanese work on display that will include wood-fired work from Bizen and Shigaraki that the Harlequin Gallery is known for together with the items below. All of which come with signed wooden boxes.