
Balter, 2019
Ceramic and enamel
19" H x 22" W x 21" D
Hostler Burrows is pleased to present John Shea: New Work, an online viewing room of recent sculptures. Completed during the last months of 2019, this newest body of work represents Shea’s latest explorations in painted ceramic. Abstract forms, comprised of organic mounds merging with sharper geometric shapes, play host to Shea’s layered application of lushly toned color. The resulting works play with the viewer’s perception - appearing, at times, to reflect an imaginary light source, at others to actually luminate from within; all while striking a visually harmonious balance of form and surface.
John Shea is currently included in Color and Production: from the Atom to the Void - a collaborative exhibition between Collective Design Fair and Frieze NY curated by Libby Sellers. The exhibition opens to the public via the Frieze NY online viewing room Friday, May 8 (VIP access May 6-7). A solo-exhibition at Hostler Burrows is planned for 2021.
Installation View, Hostler Burrows New York, 2020
Arestor, 2019 (detail); Foreshadow, 2019 (detail)
I am very interested in our relationship to objects, our perceptions of them and interactions with them.
-John Shea, 2020
Balter, 2019 (detail)
I want color to feel integrated within the form, almost as though the form is actually made out of the color itself, rather than ceramic.
-John Shea, 2020
John Shea in his studio, 2019
John Shea holds a BFA from the School for American Crafts at RIT, and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin. He currently lives and maintains a studio in Baltimore, Maryland.