Porcelain slip sgraffito on brown stoneware with glazes
10 × 8 inches
Copyright Benjamin Provo
In early 2023 I began working on a series of vessel forms employing sgraffito, a technique of decorative surface carving developed in 15th century Italy. This technique offered an immediate, direct, and spontaneous engagement with clay, bringing my established drawing practice into three dimensions. The vessels’ shapes, images, and decorative patterns are sourced primarily from my direct study of archaic Greek and Levantine ceremonial and funerary objects, while visiting the world’s great encyclopedic museums and cultural institutions. My work in ceramics aims to bridge the deep past and the present moment, employing ancient vessel forms as a surface for modern modes of mark making, narrative, and direct address. The Bacchanalian Forms from 2024-2025 explore the transformative potential of revelry and revolt in celebrating Queer love during a time of emergence and uncertainty. -Benjamin Provo
Porcelain slip sgraffito on brown stoneware with glazes
10 × 8 inches
Copyright Benjamin Provo
In early 2023 I began working on a series of vessel forms employing sgraffito, a technique of decorative surface carving developed in 15th century Italy. This technique offered an immediate, direct, and spontaneous engagement with clay, bringing my established drawing practice into three dimensions. The vessels’ shapes, images, and decorative patterns are sourced primarily from my direct study of archaic Greek and Levantine ceremonial and funerary objects, while visiting the world’s great encyclopedic museums and cultural institutions. My work in ceramics aims to bridge the deep past and the present moment, employing ancient vessel forms as a surface for modern modes of mark making, narrative, and direct address. The Bacchanalian Forms from 2024-2025 explore the transformative potential of revelry and revolt in celebrating Queer love during a time of emergence and uncertainty. -Benjamin Provo
