Axel Salto: Forces of Nature

Axel Salto (Danish, 1889 - 1961) is considered to be a master of Danish design, although his ornate, decorative ceramics often went against the simple, functional aesthetics popular in their time. Trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Salto began his career as a painter, meeting Matisse and Picasso in Paris; he stayed active in the fine arts world, producing a journal that became the forum for the modernist movement in Denmark and cofounding a group in Paris of other Scandinavian artists.

Salto turned to ceramics in the mid-1920s, for which he’s most well-known. He was inspired by the forms of nature, like seeds, flowers, or fruit, and his works show the influence of ancient Asian traditions. Salto began his ceramics career with Bing & Grøndahl, working briefly with Carl Hallier and then at Saxbo Ceramics, before settling at Royal Copenhagen, where he designed from 1933 through the 1950s.

Axel Salto: Forces of Nature features writing by Axel Salto himself, along with 16 color photographs, showcasing the range of his unique glazing techniques.