Untitled 

Christian Royal made these untitled ceramic bowls, likely sometime in the twenty-first century. They are each decorated with a different detailed leaf print. The artist's choice to depict leaves connects to broader cultural ideas about nature. Thinkers in both eastern and western traditions, like the Transcendentalists in the U.S., have depicted nature as holding intrinsic value. Royal is also using the fine art world to elevate the status of craft. Until relatively recently, craftwork like pottery was often considered distinct from and lesser than fine art like painting or sculpture. Institutions play an important role here, influencing what is considered art and what is not. As an art historian, my role is to think about how these bowls reflect their particular moment. We can consider the socio-political context of its creation and explore the artist’s writings and background to help us better understand the work.