Leonard, Courtney – Large Blue ‘Abundance’ Clay “Basket”

15" diameter x 4.5"h

$ 1,200.00

Courtney M. Leonard has been called, “One of the strongest emerging voices in the field of ceramics today“.  Her pottery is  meticulously crafted to contain historical and cultural references, but also to make the viewer reflect on their own relationship with nature and sustainability. This is one of her dynamic clay “baskets”.  She rolls out the coils and then “weaves” the basket. She is inspired by the Shinnecock baskets used for fishing.  What makes these so dynamic are first the glazes she creates. The colors are beautiful and the surface often textural.  The way the coils are woven actually creates strong clay vessels.  The way they are made they can sit on a surface, or much like they are in the fishing villages, they are hung on the wall when not in use.  On the wall they create their own beauty in the shadows and reflections!  This piece is one of her tightly woven clay baskets and a larger size.  The coloration ranges from pink to blue, with almost the appearance of algae on the surface!  The texture is distinctive as the piece is amazing to hold for both the strength of technique and the feel of the glaze.

Leonard is a member of the Shinnecock Nation, has long been exploring those fraught relationships — between native and non-native people, between native people and their traditional hunting practices, and between all people and the natural balance of the world.  The Shinnecocks, whose name means “People of the Stony Shore,” had taught the colonists how to whale when they first arrived on the South Fork.  Garth Johnson of the Ceramics Research Center says, “Her art manages to be both poetic and political, and also simultaneously personal and universal”

 We are excited to represent Courtney’s work at King Galleries.  It adds to the depth of indigenous art we represent as we add important potters from across the country.  Courtney’s intricate pieces balance both exceptional clay work with a strong, thoughtful content!