Works by Richard Slee enter the collection of The Sainsbury Centre

Hales is delighted to announce that Richard Slee's Swan (2014) is now in the Sainsbury Centre's collection.

Richard Slee (1946, Cumbria, UK) studied ceramics at the Central School of Art & Design (1965-1970). He graduated with an MA at the Royal College of Art in 1988. Slee lives and works in London. Slee is deemed to be one of Britain's most significant and influential ceramic artists. Merging humor and irony with profound technical ability, he challenges the conventions of the studio pottery tradition, transcending its utilitarian roots and paving the way for a new genre of ceramic art.

Swan (2014) comprises of three playful swans, with twisting necks and latex beaks. The majestic creatures exude a restless energy — their spiralling bodies call to mind spinning tops, evoking delight. Folklore has made the swan a magical symbol of physical transformation, chastity and beauty. The works nod to Meissen – a porcelain manufacturer whose naturalistic swans were famous from the eighteenth century onwards. Slee’s swans with their perfect conical bodies resemble an industrial aesthetic, but they are hand-built, combining traditional wheel-thrown techniques with extruded and moulded clay.
 
February 28, 2024