Barry Stedman
Barry Stedman is a contemporary ceramic artist celebrated for his vibrant, expressive earthenware vessels that reflect his deep connection to the landscapes surrounding his Bedfordshire studio.
Working primarily with red earthenware clay, Stedman’s creative process is rooted in spontaneity and responsiveness to his environment. His vessels often begin either on the potter’s wheel or as hand-built slab constructions and are then transformed through marking, scoring, and reshaping, giving each piece a raw, tactile quality. Stedman’s work is a visual response to the shifting weather, light, and natural elements outside his studio, drawing inspiration from the ever-changing landscape.
Colour is central to Stedman’s work; building up rich surfaces on his pots with layers of coloured slips and oxides. This application of colour is instinctive and layered, with vivid washes of blues, greens, and reds enhanced by a rich clear glaze that intensifies his palette. Fired at around 1100°C, the firing process brings out additional textures and colours, embedding each piece with the marks and movements of its making.
After a career in retail, Barry pursued ceramics at the University of Westminster in Harrow, completing his degree in 2009. This path led him to work with renowned potter Edmund de Waal, an experience that solidified his commitment to clay and influenced his artistic journey. Today, Barry’s work is widely exhibited across the UK and internationally, noted for its balance of bold abstraction and sensitivity to form and colour. Through his dynamic approach, Stedman creates ceramics that invite viewers to experience the rhythms and textures of the natural world in a fresh way, capturing the energy and drama of his environment in every piece.
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