Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio, KwaZulu-Natal

• Email
• Tweet
• Print

Candle-holders from Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio.

© Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio

Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio produces functional and decorative art inspired by Zulu folklore and the rich colours of this South African culture. Originally situtated on a farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, this contemporary art success story had humble beginnings.

Ardmore Studio's journey began when ceramicist and painter Fee Halsted Berning took on her first student, Bonnie Ntshalintshali, the daughter of a farm employee. Bonnie was a quick learner and, within 5 years, Bonnie and Fee were getting national and international recognition for their ceramic art. This partnership developed into the Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio.

Ardmore's modern art style breaks many ceramic conventions. The techiques used by the studio have emerged from years of experimenting with materials and processes, such as painting fired terracotta clay with plaka paints, boot polish and oven blackeners. Glues and putty are also used, along with American Amaco paints and transparent glazes. These glazes are ideal for the exuberant colouring characteristic of Ardmore's ceramics, which are also known for the attention to detail evident in each piece of work.

In 2005, a second studio was built in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Known as Ardmore Caversham, it is situated only a few kilometres from the N3 and makes an ideal home for Ardmore Ceramics. It provides infrastructure and training for a diverse group of self-employed artists. They are introduced to electric kiln firing and are equipped with the technical skills needed to use modern ceramic equipment and materials .

Ardmore ceramics are now highly collectable and the studio's artists continue to win prizes locally and internationally.  Their work celebrates the power of the African imagination as the studio's artists are able to reflect their culture and experience in the work they produce.