Brian Holland

Working with various clays to create ceramics expressing engagement with the visual physical and emotional world, invoking tactile/visual responses.

Work takes two paths, not mutually exclusive, one responds to the tactile qualities of clay, invoking natural forms, the other uses these qualities in figurative pieces expressing the human condition.

I work with a variety of clays., stoneware and earthenware.

I ran a ceramics studio in an F.E. college for 25 years, also being in charge of Art Access courses. I have a diploma in ceramics and a Dip Ed.., and BA and an MA. in sculpture.

I left full time teaching early and have been at Yorkshire Artspace for 22 years. Asked to fire the newly built wood firing Anagama kiln at Rufford Ceramics centre I gathered a team and we formed the Rufford wood firing society. 10 years later we moved to Thoresby and built another kiln. At Rufford I had a two months residency and made large figures filling the anagama.

I now use gas and electric kilns.

I have work in many private and municipal collections in Britain and France.

I am co-founder of the annual Sheffield Ceramics Festival.