Artisanal pottery crafted by Ludmilla Balkis mirrors the rustic charm of the Basque landscape
In the heart of New York City, the Guild Gallery is set to host an exhibition featuring the minimalist ceramic sculptures of Ludmilla Balkis. The exhibition, titled 'Grasp The Mountains, Then Let Them Go', is opening on April 24, 2025, and will run until June 21.
Ludmilla Balkis, a relatively unknown figure in the art world, has been honing her craft since learning ceramics with Freya Bramble Carter in London in 2014. Her work, inspired by the pastoral surroundings of the Basque Country, represents a contemporary interpretation of ceramic sculpture's evolution, blending traditional techniques with modern minimalist aesthetics.
The sculptures in the exhibition feature organic shapes, many resembling Balkis' signature 'Hodei' form with wide mouths and columnar bases. The color palette of the sculptures is bleached and blanched, achieved by drying and reducing materials to create pale layered glazes. Balkis uses clay from the earth, stones as decoration, sticks as tools, ferns, hay, branches, kaolin, and pebbles in her sculptures, creating a tactile acknowledgement of the land where she lives.
Robin Standefer, founder and curator of Guild Gallery, describes Balkis' manipulation of clay as pushing the limits of its potential. Her unique approach involves manipulating the clay without causing it to collapse, drying it in phases to prevent structural failure. This meticulous process results in sculptures that exude a sense of simplicity and elegance, reflecting the minimalist movement's emphasis on simplicity and clean lines.
The exhibition's design will feature a carefully curated selection of Balkis' sculptures positioned to highlight their form and minimalism. The gallery space will be designed to emphasize the interplay between light and shadow on the sculptures, inviting visitors to interpret the sculptures as not just objects but as part of a larger narrative about simplicity, space, and the human experience.
Balkis' work in 'Grasp The Mountains, Then Let Them Go' is an homage to the land, soil, and mountains. The Basque mountains, according to Balkis, force the observer to return to a lost state of integrity, to act in accordance with the basic order of things. This theme is reflected in the sculptures, which often resemble natural forms, such as mountains, trees, and rivers.
Balkis initially studied fashion and art history in Paris, later working as a fashion designer at Celine with Phoebe Philo. However, her move from the city to the Basque Country marked a shift in her artistic approach, leading her to adopt a minimalist, imperfect style. Her ceramic sculptures mirror a 'back to nature' trajectory in her career, embodying a reconnection with the earth and her surroundings.
Visitors to the exhibition will be drawn into Balkis' world, where the natural and domestic spheres collide. The sculptures, with their organic shapes and earthy materials, serve as a reminder of the beauty and simplicity found in nature, inviting us to grasp the mountains, let them go, and find our own sense of integrity.
For those interested in exploring the themes of evolution, inspiration, and techniques in ceramic sculpture, the exhibition at New York's Guild Gallery offers a unique opportunity to delve into the work of a promising artist, Ludmilla Balkis. The exhibition's location is New York's Guild Gallery (rwguildgalleryny.com). Don't miss the chance to immerse yourself in Balkis' minimalist ceramic sculptures and discover the beauty hidden in simplicity.
Ludmilla Balkis' minimalist ceramic sculptures, on display at the Guild Gallery's exhibition, are a blend of traditional techniques and modern aesthetics that reflect the home-and-garden surroundings of the Basque Country. The wide array of natural materials used by Balkis, such as clay, stones, sticks, and pebbles, bring a tactile acknowledgement of her earthy lifestyle to her sculptures.
The 'Grasp The Mountains, Then Let Them Go' exhibition invites visitors to delve into Balkis' world, where the beauty of nature and the simplicity of home-and-garden intertwine, providing a unique opportunity for exploration and inspiration in the realm of contemporary ceramic sculpture.