Häusler Contemporary

Summer Highlight | Judy Ledgerwood – New vessels from the Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg

During several stays at the Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg between 2016 and 2022, Ledgerwood was given the unique opportunity to combine her innovative artistic approach with a traditional craft. It is with great pleasure that Häusler Contemporary presents the artist's 14 latest ceramics.

In the sculptural majolica Ledgerwood emphasizes the different layers of meaning of the vase in a special way as an icon of everyday domestic life, sculpture and relief bearer as well as the document of a performative process. In the selected silhouette, it also becomes a metaphor for the human body.

For the titles of the ceramics Judy Ledgerwood chose women's names. In doing so, she does not refer to a specific person or figure, but only to a sense of the personality of the object in question. The smaller vessels, such as «Nell», «Babs», or «Vinni», are nicknames for the title of the related larger vessel, such as «Helen», «Barbara», or «Veda», which they resemble in coloring and ornamentation.

When it comes to the glaze, the artist sometimes operates with translucent, sometimes with compact application and with contrasting coloring of the interior and exterior, always keeping in mind their traditional meaning when choosing the colors. She often adds luxurious metallic silver or gold tones and, in turn, leaves the edges of the vessels raw, creating an exciting dialogue between the simple material and the decorative appearance of the tactilely attractive objects.

Studio view, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, 2017/2018 | photo: Günter König

Judy Ledgerwood | Ceramics Large, 2022

Judy Ledgerwood «Wilhelmina» 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 62 x 55 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Barbara», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 70 x 70 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Veda», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 64 x 45 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Vivienne», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 76 x 42 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Beatrice», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 70 x 64 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Helen», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 73 x 62 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Dorothy», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large Majolica | 64 x 70 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood | Ceramics Small, 2022

Judy Ledgerwood «Minn», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small Majolica | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Babs», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small Majolica | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Vinni», 2022 Produktion: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unikat, Small Majolika | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Viv», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small Majolica | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Bea», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small Majolica | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Nell», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small Majolica | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Dot», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small Majolica | 25 cm
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Judy Ledgerwood «Babs», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small

Judy Ledgerwood «Babs», 2022 (Detail) Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Small

Judy Ledgerwood «Beatrice» (Detail), Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, Unique, Large

«Each vase is unique in character. The motifs presented externally repeat patterns that mirror imperfections in human experience.
The symbolic shapes of these motifs are emblems typically found in Stone Age goddess figures such as recurring triangles, chevrons, circles, and flower-like quatrefoils. There is an interior view inside the vases with contrasting color or colors, often quite expressive in nature. The touch that is part of making in clay, is carried through in the glazing-inside and outside, public and private, painting and sculpture, timeless and for a moment, strong and delicate, craft and fine art, questioning binaries between all these things.»

Judy Ledgerwood

Judy Ledgerwood «Helen», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large

Judy Ledgerwood «Helen», 2022 (Detail) Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large

Judy Ledgerwood «Viv», 2022, Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, Unique, Small

Judy Ledgerwood «Barbara», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large

Installation view Majolica Days, Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, 2022

Judy Ledgerwood «Wilhelmina», 2022 (Detail), Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg, Unique, Large

Judy Ledgerwood «Beatrice», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large

Judy Ledgerwood «Beatrice», 2022 (Detail) Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large

Judy Ledgerwood «Beatrice», 2022 Production: Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg Unique, Large

Find more information and work by Judy Ledgerwood here.

Summer Highlight | Judy Ledgerwood – New vessels from the Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg

Judy Ledgerwood | Ceramics Large, 2022

Judy Ledgerwood | Ceramics Small, 2022

Unless otherwise noted, all images are: Courtesy of the artist and Häusler Contemporary, Photos: Dirk Tacke

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