Date: 6 August 2025

The internationally renowned Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) at York Art Gallery has undergone a major redisplay of its ceramics collection. Titled Not a Pot, the new exhibition showcases the wide range of sculptural pottery in York Art Gallery’s collection. Marking the passing of one of the UK’s most influential potters, Gordon Baldwin (1932–2025), earlier this year, the new displays celebrate his achievements in moving pottery away from its more functional concerns, onto a more sculptural platform. Using Baldwin’s interests as a guide, visitors will see his impact on other artists through his work and his activity as a teacher, as they explore themes such as Surrealism, landscape, function and the human figure. 

An astonishing array of objects feature in the new displays, presenting a wide range of techniques and materials, and the extraordinary ability of artists to transform simple material with great skill into works that surprise, amuse and move. Not a Pot challenges the conventions of functional and traditional ceramics, with experimental pieces which pushed the boundaries, such as work by the renowned ceramicist Ewen Henderson whose bold making method of mixing clays and firing them to extreme temperatures often had explosive results. Whilst experimental artist Gillian Lowndes, created a unique style of bricolage pieces out of clay and found materials that defy categorisation. Richard Slee takes a conceptual route in his work ’Essence of Slee’, filling a saltshaker with particles of clay representing his creativity. Star works from the collection include Bernard Leach’s masterpiece the ‘Leaping Salmon’ vase and William Staite Murray’s monumental ‘Kwan Yin’ jar. Both vessels were given to the gallery by the Dean of York, Eric Milner-White, in 1959 as part of his internationally significant collection of early 20th century pioneering studio pottery. The versatility of clay as a material is shown by artists who have exploited its plasticity to create complex shapes and forms, such as York based artists Ruth King and Ben Arnup.  

Alongside contemporary works are examples of historical ceramics which have been inspirational to modern artists. York is home to two of only 30 surviving pots by the 17th century Staffordshire potter Thomas Toft. Toft’s exuberant decoration was admired by Pablo Picasso whose work features in the displays and his ‘Plate: Visages No.192’ reveals a similar child-like joy in working in clay. Other historical works feature in the exhibition include a 17th century slipware owl, an unusual 19th century vase from Christopher Dresser’s Linthorpe Pottery and Chinese tomb figures from the Tang period that reveal the long history of creativity and experimentation by potters. 

Inspiration, collaboration and the exploration of materials is fostered in art schools such as Camberwell School of Art, one of London’s oldest art schools, and these themes are highlighted within Not a Pot. Sara Radstone was one of the school’s many important pupils, taught by Lowndes and Henderson, amongst others. Radstone’s work ‘Upright Form’, depicting exploratory tactile handwork, is a monumental freestanding piece focusing on memory and place and is shown alongside work by other artists who have a connection to Camberwell. 

One section focuses on work by important German emigre artist Hans Coper, who came to the UK during the second world war fleeing Nazi persecution. Included in the exhibition is the pottery wheel he built and used to make many of the works by him on display. His use of the pottery wheel as a tool to create simple shapes which he then transformed into complex sculptural vessels, inspired generations of artists, such as Gordon Baldwin, to explore more experimental ways of hand-building with clay. The exhibition encourages a deep dive into the form, colour, shape, and textures used by a wide variety of artists working in clay, looking at their techniques, inspirations and use of material across recognisable domestic forms to abstract and monumental pieces.  

Whilst the majority of the exhibits are made from clay, some of the artists featured have combined clay with other materials or discarded it altogether to create work out of wood or metal. Works on display by Bryan Illsley include painting, wooden wall sculpture and his ‘Climate Warning Helmet’, a piece of protective headgear created from found pieces of metal. 

Dr Helen Walsh, Curator of Ceramics at York Art Gallery said: “York Art Gallery’s extensive collection of ceramics encompasses such a broad range of styles, uses and materials, many of which differ from traditional views or concepts of ceramic art. Not a Pot provides a space for these more unusual pieces to be seen and interpreted in a variety of ways. After the recent passing of Gordon Baldwin, this display draws attention to his prominence in the development and teaching of British Studio ceramics and celebrates his talent as a potter.”  

The sculptural element of the pottery also served as inspiration for the wider interactive elements in this exhibition, with several of the pieces transformed into wearable costume from local creator, Textiles by Gnomes. From triangular tea pots, to jars and other creative ceramic pieces, all ages will be able to experience dressing like one of the objects in the exhibition.  

The exhibition is now open and will become part of York Art Gallery’s longer running ceramic displays, alongside the Wall of Women and the Anthony Shaw Collection. All ceramic exhibitions are included in York Art Gallery’s general admission ticket price.