BCB 2023 Panel Talks – The Career of an Artist
The Career of an Artist was an insightful and candid panel discussion about the realities of being a contemporary artist. This talk was part of the events programme for the 2023 Biennial. It originally took place and was filmed during the 2023 British Ceramics Biennial in the All Saints Church Hall.
About The Career of an Artist panel discussion
The Chair of this fascinating discussion was artist, Professor and curator Clare Twomey. It drew out honest perspectives on navigating a career as an artist across acclaimed early, mid and established ceramic artists. The panel included artist and designer Bisila Noha, leading ceramic artist Martin Smith and former Fresh Talent Resident Pam Su.
The deeply insightful conversation ranged from preferred studio set-up to navigating inspiration blocks. The panel spoke about balancing creative practice and home life along with what qualities they feel made them successful as artists.
About the panel
Clare Twomey is a British artist and a Professor at the University of Westminster. She works with clay in large-scale installations, sculpture and site-specific works.
Bisila Noha is a Spanish-Equatoguinean ceramic artist based in London. With her work, she aims to challenge Western views on art and craft and to question what we understand as productive and worthy in capitalist societies.
Martin Smith is a key figure in British ceramics. He trained at Bristol Polytechnic Faculty of Art and Design and the Royal College of Art, and sees himself as an artist, designing his work with the mindset of an architect and meticulously planning each piece.
Pam Su is an American artist working in sculptural ceramics based in London. She draws from her background in film studies and attempts to harness mood, tone, atmosphere into static forms occupying space.
The events programme of BCB 2023 had support from Potterycrafts.