Ann Tsubota: A Passion for Clay, includes diverse groups of work by this well-known ceramic artist. Ann Tsubota is the Chairperson of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Raritan Valley Community College, NJ. She is an honored and respected teacher, known for her high standards, and has sent many ceramic artists out into the art world. Tsubota is represented by galleries in New York and New Jersey; her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions from the 1970s to the present day. She holds the M.F.A. from Rutgers University, where she had the opportunity to study and work with Ka Kwong Hui, an esteemed and innovative ceramic artist.
Ann Tsubota works in several clay materials: raku, stoneware and porcelain, and does low-and high-fire reduction in her studio kiln. A master of ceramic technique, she takes particular interest in investigating surface and glaze possibilities, often using traditional functional vessel forms for inventive and unexpected treatment and motifs. The surface becomes a skin for richly varied drawings, paintings, incision and relief. Tsubota’s interests in history, politics and the contemporary world are reflected in the texts and images found on her vessels. Literature and poetry have frequently been inspiration for themes and series. Ann Tsubota’s work is informed by her extensive knowledge of the ceramic traditions of many ancient and modern societies. Viewers may recognize this artist’s sometimes witty response to venerated forms and shapes, as well as her deeply serious concern with today’s issues.
We are fortunate to have several notes from the artist accompanying the work in the exhibition.
Hildreth York, Curator