Odundo biography

Magdalene Odundo

Kenyan-born British studio potter (born )

Dame Magdalene Anyango Namakhiya OdundoDBE (born ) is a Kenyan-born Britishstudio potter, who now lives in Farnham, Surrey.[1] Her work is in the collections of notable museums including the Art Institute of Chicago, The British Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Museum of African Art.[2][3][4][5]

She has been Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts since [6]

Early life and education

Magdalene Odundo was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and received her early education in both India and Kenya.

She attended the Kabete National Polytechnic in Kenya to study Graphics and Commercial Art and later moved to England in to follow her chosen vocation in Graphic Design.

Also, Magdalene has been known to mix in a bit of slip clay when fashioning her pottery. It showcased her own pieces as well as myriad global references that have informed her work. The pieces are fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, which turns them a red-orange. Almost all her ceramics are unglazed.

After training in Farnham, Surrey,[1] she completed her qualifications in foundation art and graphics at the Cambridge School of Art,[7] where she began to specialise in ceramics.[8]

After a while in England she discovered pottery, and in –75 she visited Nigeria, visiting the Pottery Training Centre in Abuja, and Kenya to study traditional hand-built pottery techniques.[9] She also travelled to San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico, to observe the making of black-burnished vessels.

In , Odundo received a BA degree from West Surrey College of Art & Design (now University for the Creative Arts).[10] She then earned a master's degree at the Royal College of Art in London. She taught at the Commonwealth Institute in London from to and at the Royal College of Art in London from to , before returning to teach at Surrey Institute of Art & Design (now University for the Creative Arts) in , becoming Professor of Ceramics in [10] In March she was inaugurated as an Emerita Professor of the University for the Creative Arts, with a celebration event held at the Farnham campus against the backdrop of her important work in glass, Transition II.[11] She lives and works in Surrey.

Career

Odundo's best-known ceramics are hand built, using a coiling technique. Each piece is burnished, covered with slip, and then burnished again. The pieces are fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, which turns them a red-orange. A second firing in an oxygen-poor (reducing) atmosphere causes the clay to turn black; this is known as reduction-firing.[12] She uses the same types of techniques used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans and likes to take inspiration from countries such as China and Mexico.[13] Her graphic design skills still remain with her as she often sketches her interest in natural forms and the design of form to help her with her ceramic creations.[14] Many of the vessels Odundo creates are reminiscent of the human form, often following the curves of the spine, stomach, or hair.[12] Furthermore, the shape of expression of her vessels are symbolic of the female body; one of her most famous pieces is a black and ocher vessel with a curved base and elongated neck resembling the form of a pregnant woman.

Her work is now a part of permanent collections of nearly 50 international museums including:

In , her work was presented in an exhibition titled "Resonance and Inspiration" at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art of the University of Florida. This was her first solo exhibition in the US since and her first solo appearance in Florida.

This exhibit was also the first time her drawings and sketches were presented alongside her vessels.[17] Her free-form drawing style replicates the same shape and form as her vessels, serving as a glimpse into how Odundo perceives her three-dimensional works in two dimensions.

In there was a major exhibition that centred on a group of more than 50 of her works, alongside other works of art that Odundo saw as relating to or influencing her work; the exhibition was titled 'The Journey of Things'.[18] The show was displayed in two locations: The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire and then the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, East Anglia.[18]

Recognition and honours

Odundo was awarded the African Art Recognition Award by Detroit Institute of Arts in , and the African Heritage Outstanding Achievement in the Arts award in , together with honorary doctorates from the University of Florida () and University of the Arts London ().[19] She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to art in the Birthday Honours[20] and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the New Year Honours for services to art and arts education.[21]

Odundo has been recognized as a significant player in contemporary ceramics, making her name a large contributor to African Art in the US during the s.

Magdalene odundo biography She obtained the necessary qualifications from the Cambridge School of Arts. S2CID The most notable of her many tours, perhaps, were made between and Footnotes [ edit ].

As observed by Augustus Casely-Hayford, "[She draws] on something of the wisdom and experience of the Leach, or a line borrowed from ancient European antiquity, to create a trans-global, trans-temporal visual system of her own; modern, yet simultaneously old, African yet resolutely European"[5]

In it was announced that Odundo would take up the role of Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts from June [22]

Odundo, who in was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Art,[23] was made a Dame (DBE) in the Queen's New Year's Honours.[24][25][26] In is a world famous ceramic artist and Chancellor of the University of the Creative Arts.

In she received the African Art Recognition Award from the Detroit Art Institute and in the African Heritage 40 Years Anniversary Award. In she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Ceramics Festival and in was appointed DBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for Services to the Arts and Arts Education.

In she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by Anglia Ruskin University.

  1. ^ abKhanchandani, Priya (17 August ). "Magdalene Odundo: 'Of all mediums, clay is the most versatile, pliable and human'". The Observer.

    Odundo biography Winter As Kenyan schools followed the English curriculum Kenya being under British colonial rule until , Odundo knew a huge amount about the history and culture of England before she arrived, but was surprised to find that many English people knew little about other parts of the world. Start planning. Dame Magdalene Odundo is one of the greatest ceramicists working today.

    Retrieved 9 July

  2. ^"Magdalene Odundo: Collections Online | British Museum". . Retrieved 18 March
  3. ^"Magdalene Odundo, Untitled, ". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 18 March
  4. ^"Magdalene Odundo". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 18 March
  5. ^ abcSoppelsa, Robert T.

    (Winter ). "Ceramic Gestures: New Vessels by Magdelene Odundo". UCLA James S Coleman African Studies Center. 29 (1): JSTOR&#;

  6. ^"World-renowned ceramicist becomes Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts". University for the Creative Arts. 25 June Retrieved 9 July
  7. ^Joris, Yvonne G.

    J. M. (). Magdalene Odundo. Cip-Gegevens Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Den Haag.

  8. Magdalene odundo website
  9. University for the creative arts wikipedia
  10. Magdalene odundo most famous piece
  11. Magdalene odundo artwork
  12. Magdalene odundo ceramics for sale

    13. p.&#;

  13. ^Morris, Tom (14 February ). "A new exhibition celebrates the global sweep of Kenya-born British artist Magdalene Odundo". Wallpaper. Retrieved 9 July
  14. ^Spring, Chris (). Angaza Afrika: African Art Now. London: Laurence King. pp.&#; ISBN&#;.
  15. ^ abMagdalene Odundo resumé.
  16. ^"UCA Emerita Professorship awarded to international contemporary artist", UAC, 4 March
  17. ^ abBirmingham Museum of Art ().

    Birmingham Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection. London: Giles. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Archived from the original on 10 September Retrieved 24 June

  18. ^Joris (). Magdalene Odundo. p.&#;7.
  19. ^Joris (). Magdalene Odundo. p.&#;
  20. ^Berns, Marla C (28 July ).

    "Odundo, Magdalene". Grove Art Online. doi/gao/article.T ISBN&#;.

  21. ^"Mar. 6 Art Minute: Magdalene Odundo, "Untitled"". The Toledo Museum of Art. 6 March Retrieved 2 May
  22. ^Poynor, Robin; Moon, MacKenzie (Summer ).

    Dame odundo: Francesca Torres Francesca Torres is a pottery and handcrafts expert behind this site. Grove Art Online. Germany United States Netherlands Israel. As Kenyan schools followed the English curriculum Kenya being under British colonial rule until , Odundo knew a huge amount about the history and culture of England before she arrived, but was surprised to find that many English people knew little about other parts of the world.

    "Resonance and Inspiration: New Works by Magdalene Odundo by Magdalene Odundo". African Arts. 40 (2): 86– doi/afar JSTOR&#; S2CID&#;

  23. ^ abClugston, Hannah (15 February ). "Magdalene Odundo review – that pot's got my nose!". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November
  24. ^"Honorary Awards ", UAL.
  25. ^"No.

  28. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June p.&#;

  29. ^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December p.&#;N8.
  30. ^Wanjohi, John, "Kenyan-Born Prof Magdalene Odundo Named Chancellor of UK's University of Creative Arts", , 20 September
  31. ^"Magdalene Odundo OBE (KENYA/UK)".

    International Ceramics Festival. 8 January Retrieved 9 July

  32. ^"Order of the British Empire". The Gazette (). 27 December Retrieved 9 July
  33. ^Harris, Gareth (28 December ). "UK New Year's Honours awards for ceramicist Magdalene Odundo and artist David Shrigley".

    The Art Newspaper.

    Explore Further. Germany United States Netherlands Israel. Her works have further broadened the traditional definition of ceramics, even though they lack functionality. Odundo's best-known ceramics are hand built, using a coiling technique.

    Retrieved 9 July

  34. ^"UCA Chancellor Magdalene Odundo made a dame". University for the Creative Arts. 3 January Retrieved 9 July

References

  • Berns, Marla C., Ceramic Gestures, New Vessels by Magdalene Odundo, Santa Barbara: University Art Museum, University of California,
  • Bonacina, Andrew, Magdalene Odundo: The Journey of Things, The Hepworth Wakefield,
  • Jegede, Dele, Contemporary African Art, Five Artists, Diverse Trends, Indianapolis, Ind.: Indianapolis Museum of Art,
  • Slayter-Ralph, Anthony, Magdalene Odundo, London: Lund Humphries,

External links