Artist's Statement

I am interested in landscape, its influence on humans and their impact upon it through time. I like to explore these issues through my personal landscape and its influence upon me. Change is constant and its impact upon the landscape is stark. The global cycles that create what we see around us are referenced in my work by the process of creating a wood-fired ceramic object. In every piece there is creation and destruction. The metaphoric relationship between the geological process and the ceramic process is integral to my work.

Through my work I reference places that have significance to my life within the landscape.  I intentionally source my own local materials, using them unrefined to show my personal relationship with the landscape, the materials within it and my past experiences from where they were collected.  

Moon Jars are a Korean form from the Choson dynasty (1392-1910) originally made from plain white porcelain. At the time they represented the epitome of austere Confucian taste. I was struck by their serenity and simplicity. I decided to use this pure form as a canvas adding glaze, texture and materials from the landscape to create contemplative pieces of personal significance.

Current Work

Work Generally Available from:
Contemporary Ceramics, London
Bianco Nero Gallery, North Yorkshire
The Craft Centre & Design Gallery, Leeds
The Garden Gallery, Hampshire
New Craftsman Gallery, St.Ives.
Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow
Ruthin Craft Centre
The Studio Gallery, St.Davids
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Oriel Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw Gallery, Gwynedd.
Harbour Lights Gallery, Porthgain.
Llys Meddyg, Newport.
Adam Buick's own Online Gallery

Technical Information

My work is all hand thrown. For the large pieces I add coils and throw, building the pot up over several days. I use an iron rich, heavily grogged clay for its distinctive texture and rich natural tones. The jars are fired to stoneware temperatures (1300°C) with feldspadic glazes and iron oxide giving the diverse range of colours. The use of locally sourced materials such as beach aggregates and seaweed add dramatic spontaneity to my work. 

Background History

Education:
2004-2006 Crafts Council of Ireland Pottery Design and Skills Course, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
2002-2003 Portfolio building at West Wales School of Art, Carmarthen.
1998-2001 BA (joint hons.) Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Wales, Lampeter.

Exhibitions

2008 Pen-Y-Fan Gallery, Brecon
2008 Clay Art Wales
2008 Oriel Fach, Narbeth
2008 The Albany Gallery, Cardiff

2007 The Cloister Gallery, St.Davids
2007 Pebbles Yard Gallery, St. Davids
2007 Llys Meddyg, Newport.
2006 Group exhibition, National Craft Gallery of Ireland, Kilkenny.
2003 Solo exhibition, Oriel Ty-Bach, Mobile Gallery

Awards

Arts Council of Wales project grant to exhibit at Origin 2009

Publications

Ceramic Review: Issue 240. Searching for Perfection
Advertising campaign for Origin 2009. Ceramic Review: issue 239
Ceramic Review: issue 231. Gallery section
15/10/2008 Western Telegraph. Innovative Displays (exhibition review)