Margaret Curtis's highly distinctive pots - lidded jars and caddies, bottles and vases, tea bowls, sake cups - show her ability to combine rich textured glazes with simple strong forms. Born in Seaham, County Durham, she established a studio at Middle Rigg with her husband Eddie Curtis in 1979.

Margaret Curtis image

A decisive moment came in 1999 when she visited the home and studio of Miwa Kyusetsu XI in Hagi, Japan, and was deeply affected by his use of black clay which she began to use, alongside her porcelain, on her return home.

Margaret employs great freedom of form, achieving an effective synthesis of clay, glaze and slip to create objects with a very elemental character, their surfaces reminiscent of moss or lichen-covered stone or the irons often left by the path of natural spring water. The effect is one of fluidity, of surfaces and shapes which possess powerful qualities of stilled motion.

Curriculum Vitae

Born 1955, Seaham, UK

1979: Established studio at Middle Rigg

Solo Exhibitions

2014

'The Beauty 0f Imperfection' Galerie Metzger, near Aschaffenburg Germany

2012

'Eddie Curtis, Margaret Curtis: New Textures, New Forms',

Contemporary Ceramics Centre, London, UK

2010

'Curtis Red', Galerie Metzger, Johannesberg, near Aschaffenburg, Germany

'Curtis Red', Rufford Park, Notttinghamshire, UK

2008

Beaux Arts, Bath,UK

Lund Gallery, Easingwold, UK

Inspires, Oxford, UK

Brooke Street Gallery, Hay on Wye, UK

2006

Broughton Gallery, Biggar, UK

2005

Lund Gallery, Easingwold, North Yorkshire, UK

Galerie Mebius, Noordhorn, The Netherlands

2004

Beaux Arts, Bath, UK

Group Exhibitions

2013

'Insight into Beauty', Embassy of Japan. London, UK

'Ceramics Now', Contemporary Ceramics Centre, London, UK

2011

'Chawan Exhibition', Gallery St. Ives, Tokyo, Japan

2007

'Totally Teabowls', Oakwood Gallery, Thoresby, UK

2005

'International Chawan Exhibition', Het laatste Huis, Belgium

'International Ceramics Exhibition', Seeschloss Gmunden, Austria

2004

'UK Ceramics', Gallery Enju, Tottori City, Japan

2003

Isouan Gallery, Okazaki City, Aichi, Japan

Kawarabanya Gallery, Seto, Japan

Awards & Prizes

2006

Arts Council England (Cultural Business Venture Award)

2003

Keramiekprijs Noord Nederland, Dwingeloo, Holland (Ist Prize)

Cultural Foundation of Okada, Banko Potters, Yokkaichi, Japan (Honorary Award)

Arts Council England (International Travel Award)

2002

One North East (WVDC Marketing