Designer Focus: Clay Date

Ceramics artists are breaking stylistic molds, creating today’s hottest collectibles. —by Rima Suqi There’s been an explosion of people creating amazing ceramic design, sculpture, and art,” notes Benjamin Wiener, who founded the contemporary ceramic art and design gallery Cocobolo in New York City 10 years ago. Designers have helped to fuel the proverbial fire, increasingly sourcing and commissioning artists and pieces that add texture and a bit of drama in sophisticated spaces. Here, a select group of designers reveal their current favorites to spec for clients and to collect themselves. 1. Dufner Heighes on Suzy Goodelman: “Suzy’s unique flanged pieces are simultaneously complex and dynamic, yet light and serene. They evoke nature, yet are distinctly handmade. Her early influences in Swedish and Japanese design align with our own sensibilities, so her pieces effortlessly complement our interiors.” Torqued porcelain vessel with celadon glaze, $2,800, Cocobolo Design, cocobolodesign.com 2. Kelly Wearstler on Bari Ziperstein: “Bari Ziperstein’s works are so textural and full of geometry—they’re like little Brutalist sculptures. When you have thoughtful, creative art in a space, there is a deeper authenticity; it is all about creating a sense of soul.” Triple Tier Hex side table, $2,500,  bzippyandcompany.com 3. Celerie Kembel on David Haskell: “I love David Haskell’s ceramic works for being warm, modern minimalist vessels (think Brancusi goes to Joshua Tree). They evoke the feeling of plants, rocks, and sculpture intertwined.” Large-Scale Assemblage Sculpture #1, $6,800 at Donzella, Ltd., donzella.com 4. Mitra Moshari on Roger Herman: “I like Roger’s ceramics because they have a lot of layers; you see the cracks, and the pigments he adds. His work has a really raw, primitive feel to it, but there is still delicacy because it’s a ceramic. It’s not perfect, which I really like, and it has a lot of character.” Untitled 18 (Orange, Brown, Yellow, Green), price upon request at Carpenters Workshop Gallery,  carpentersworkshopgallery.com 5. Kristen McGinnis on Linda Lopez “As a ceramic collector, I had an immediate attraction to the work of Linda Lopez. She has perfected her technique in such a way that it seems to defy the handcrafted element of the works. The quirky and animalistic qualities they possess are beyond charming. When grouped together, they almost seem to come alive.” Jade Furry with Gold Rocks, $10,500 at Mindy Solomon Gallery, mindysolomon.com 6. Brian McCarthy on Eric Serritella: “Eric and I share a love for the beauty of a birch tree and how it sheds its skin, and in doing so is, in a way, reborn. Eric’s work defies imagination in its realism and technique. The surface and form bewilder viewers. I can’t resist the appeal of his work. He is masterfully unique in his ability.” Adam, Waiting for Eve, price upon request at Jason Jacques Gallery,  jasonjacques.com 7. Josh Greene on Eric Roinestad: “Eric’s work takes ancient forms and repurposes them to be modern. It’s a simple concept but not easy to do well. There is also a clear dedication to his practice as evidenced by the meticulous consistency in his inventive shapes and finishes.” Masks, vessels, and bowl, from $5,000 each at The Future Perfect,  thefutureperfect.com 8. Charles De Lisle on Matthias Kaiser: “I have been collecting and placing Matthias’s work for years and have visited his studio in Austria. He follows his imagination, creating really playful and fresh work that’s my favorite type—recognizable, but not.” Madara, yellow hikidashi, and cracked slip wayward vases, $995 each, matthiaskaiser.com Find your next home today.