In his visually complex sculptures, Atlanta ceramic artist David Robinson is inspired by the natural world and “the residue of the human experience.”
The artist: Robinson grew up in Greenville, MS, and graduated from Delta State University in Cleveland, MS. He also earned a master’s degree in instructional design from Georgia State University (GSU).
While working full time in various leadership positions for Fortune 500 companies, he also studied drawing and painting at GSU.
In the beginning: A friend invited Robinson to take a ceramics class at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta many years ago.
“Working with clay just “clicked” with me,” said Robinson. I was totally hooked and never went back to painting.”
After that, Robinson pursued ceramics and sculpture through a variety of sources, including additional classes at Callanwolde for about six years, followed by workshops and seminars.
For many years, the largely self-taught ceramicist worked with the figure. But recently, Robinson has focused on making more abstract, non-representational wall pieces.
The studio: Robinson’s studio in Atlanta’s Ormewood Park is a stand-alone, private structure about two blocks from his house.
The goods & materials: Hand-built, terra cotta clay wall sculptures, glazed mostly in black and white and shaped into spherical or box-like forms. ($950 to $4,500).
Attached to the abstract pieces are a variety of disparate yet familiar manmade objects (like rubber hoses or pieces of metal). Or objects, like shells and bones, found in nature.
The process: Rarely using molds, Robinson:
- Creates an underlying skeleton or “matrix” from hand-rolled clay coils.
- Arranges them so that they bow out from the wall in a convex shape, much like monkey bars or a jungle gym on a playground.
- Attaches a variety of pressed, ribbed, pierced, and carved slabs of clay or small sculptural objects to the matrix forms.
- Low-fires sculpture in his kiln.
- Finally, glazes the sculptures with a variety of glazes, underglazes, oxides and mason stains – and fires them again.
Inspirations: Nature. Also, as humans, what we make and leave behind, including:
- The body’s bones and teeth.
- Nature, including slime molds and fungi.
- Black and white portraits of plants by German photographer Karl Blossfeldt.
- Industrial and manufactured objects. Also architectural materials.
Any fun or unusual requests: An art consultant asked him if he might be interested in making a series of ceramic bones for a local orthopedic doctor. He passed on the request.
Awards:
- 2019, Second place in the fine arts exhibition, sponsored by the Decatur Arts Alliance, at Agnes Scott College’s Dalton Gallery.
- 2015, First place at America’s ClayFest at the Blue Line Arts in Roseville, CA.
- Honors:
- In 2019, included in “Gathered IV” exhibition, “Georgia Artists Selecting Georgia Artists,” at MOCA in Atlanta.
- In 2019, invited to a two-month residency at Gaya Ceramic Center in Bali, Indonesia.
- In 2018, awarded a 10-week residency at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, CO.
- In 2017, awarded a Wingate Foundation Scholarship/Summer residency at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, MT.
What’s new: First solo show, “Alluvium,” at {Poem88}, a contemporary art gallery in Atlanta, July 10 through Aug 17.
Where to buy: poem88.net. See more of his work at davidrobinson.website.
Get social at:
- Instagram: davidrobinson1979
