Penny Lecture: Scooters, Waterlilies, Buddhas and Dragons

To make large-scale work has always been my opiate and China has given me a confidence to explore, experiment and expand my oeuvre as a ceramic artist. Asked to describe the 'Porcelain city ' of Jingdezhen where I have a studio, I would say it was like a 'frontier town'. It remains unique, full of surprises, and completely idiosyncratic. There are skills and techniques to be found here as well as a rich cultural history that provide endless opportunities for interpretation. The energy and vitality of its citizens have become almost addictive to me. This talk will look at my working relationship with the city and its artisan community: setting up a studio, making 'big pots', and living in an unfamiliar culture.

Felicity Aylieff is an artist of international standing, recognised for her research into large-scale ceramics. Having worked from her studio in Bath for over three decades, 15 years ago she began a collaborative relationship with factories in Jingdezhen, China, where she now makes monumental porcelain pots. Her work shows her passion for material and process through its use of colour, pattern, and decorative techniques. Her early teaching career was as senior tutor in Ceramics at Bath Spa University. In 2001 she began teaching ceramics and glass at the Royal College of Art where she is Professor. Her work is held in numerous international private and public collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. She is currently planning an exhibition and installation at Kew Gardens which will open in 2023. She is represented by Adrian Sassoon, London.