Mark Derby

My work follows traditional Decorative Arts examples such as plates, vases and covered containers. These forms are typically highly decorated, sometimes narrative, sometimes ceremonial, but always special. I use fragments of architectural elements to reference our built environment. I embrace the history of traditional arts and the sense of ancestry it provides as the basis for my work in clay today. The color palette is bright and from nature, or earthy to depict imaginary landscapes or places unknown. The connection of man’s built environment relative to the natural environment are crucial for sustainability. We see this, we know this, yet we ignore this. So my work is a subtle reminder to look and think deeper about ourselves , about our place, and about our actions.
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