Bowl 1895 - 1913

This gorgeous, earthy bowl was made by George Ohr, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. He made it out of clay, and it’s such a physical piece, a real testament to the way artmaking is all about process. The first thing you notice is that warm, inviting color. The clay is this orangey-brown, and the surface looks almost like wood grain. You can see the artist's hands in it. Look at how he manipulated the clay, pinching and folding, so it’s hard to believe it’s not fabric. It’s like he’s wrestling with the material, pushing it to its absolute limit. And it's not perfect, not at all. It's asymmetrical and a little lumpy, and that's what makes it so appealing. It reminds me a bit of some of the wilder ceramics of Ken Price, but with a more grounded, organic feel. This piece embraces imperfection, and it invites us to do the same. There’s nothing definitive about it, and that’s the beauty of art, right?