Adela Powell ceramics

Bringing together techniques and ideas from a lifetime of making ceramics, Adela Powell’s recent work has found a strong, free voice which we celebrate in this major exhibition.

Having studied natural sciences and made a habit of observing the natural world, including the effects of nature on manmade items that wash up on our beaches and rivers, Adela Powell’s ceramics examine rust and decay, strong forms with frangible surfaces, shell forms with smoothest sensuous insides and robust rough exteriors.

Her glazes are dripped and crackled, layered deep, with areas of shiny rich colour abutting chalky semi-transparent over-glazes. This is an artist working in three dimensions, sometimes making organic forms and other times pressing in abstract marks or almost figurative patterns. Do click on the images below to expand them and see the work in detail.

Adela Powell’s recent ceramics can be viewed below. Please call us on +44 (0)1308 459511 or email on gallery@sladersyard.co.uk with any enquiries. We are happy to ship ceramics.

125. Medium Fat Can Form 26 x 24 x 11cm £490

Adela Powell’s ceramics are shown below. Please click on an image to see it more closely. The measurements are listed height x width x depth, or height x diameter. We measure the widest part of the piece. Pots can be bought over the phone on 01308 459511 or by email on gallery@sladersyard.co.uk

148. Large Plate H4 x Diameter 37cm £320

Adela Powell’s new work is shown in two sections. Be sure not to miss the Can Forms in a separate gallery below.

Varied Forms

103. Standing Shell Form

103. 24 x 55 x 37.5cm

103. SOLD

148. Large Plate

148. 4 x 37cm £320

149. Plate

149. 2.5 x 24.5cm £135

150. Plate

150. 2.5 x 24.5cm £135

CAN FORMS

Adela Powell’s Can Forms are an artform in themselves. Here we offer an irresistible selection.

124. Large Can Form

124. 34 x 20 x 9cm

124. £590

125. Medium Fat Can Form

125. 26 x 24 x 11cm

125. £490

128. Medium Fat Can Form

128. 24 x 24 x 8cm

128. £490

56. Can Form Large Blue

56. 23 x 24 x 7cm

56. £465

131. Tall Can Form

131. 24.5 x 13 x 6cm

131. £365

132. Small Medium Can Form

132. 22.5 x 21 x 7.5cm

132. £385

133. Small Medium Can Form

133. 21 x 19 x 8cm

133. £365

135. Tall Can Form

135. 21.5 x 14 x 6.5cm

135. £350

137. Tall Can Form

137. 19.5 x 14 x 6cm

137. £295

138. Tall Can Form

138. 18 x 14 x 5.5cm

138. £295

Please call us on +44 (0)1308 459511 or email gallery@sladersyard.co.uk to enquire. We are happy to ship ceramics.

Adela Powell’s ceramics are inspired by the sea and coastal landscape. She searches for universal patterns, textures and forms in nature, where science and art are inseparable. Her method is experimental and different every time. She uses various clays including mud from the Dorset coast and from the Tamar River. Sometimes she incorporates other material she finds at the water’s edge, both organic and inorganic. The inherent tactile and textural qualities of clay are enhanced with many layers of oxides, slips and glazes which she fires to 1265 degrees C in an electric kiln after a bisque firing in a gas kiln.

She has been a professional potter for many years. Born in the Wirral, Cheshire, she read Natural Sciences at Liverpool University, and the science of the natural world still plays a strong part in her inspiration. She later attended Plymouth College of Art whilst bringing up her young family. A move to Cornwall over 30 years ago had a great impact on her work. The natural environments of coast, moorland and river valleys have influenced her in many ways which can clearly be seen in her forms and colours. Her techniques, including mark-making, found materials and many layers, produce a visual layering evocative of erosion, decay and history.

Adela Powell is a selected member of the Craft Potters Association in London. Last year, she took part in the new Celebrating Ceramics Fair in Oxford, unfortunately cancelled this year. She enjoyed a long association with Badcocks Gallery in Newlyn, Penzance, who also showed her work at the Affordable Art Fairs in London. She has exhibited regularly at Art in Clay at Hatfield and at Artmill Gallery, Plymouth. She has also recently exhibited at Innovations in Ceramic Art at the Guildhall, Cambridge, and at York Ceramics Fair. We are delighted to show her work at Sladers Yard.

Sadly, Adela Powell is no relation to Anna Powell, Director of Sladers Yard.