Written in Clay: From the John David Lawrence Collection
May 25, 2025 - November 9, 2025
John David Lawrence in his home, Photo: Vancouver Art Gallery
Written in Clay presents a history of ceramics made in British Columbia told through the collection of John David Lawrence. Featuring approximately 200 objects, it examines the materials and processes artists utilized in relation to the context in which studio ceramics arose and developed in the region.
The exhibition features three interconnected sections: influence and inspiration; form and function; and artist spotlights that highlight important figures whose work and legacies altered the direction of ceramic arts in BC. Celebrating 35 artists, Written in Clay establishes the mentors, interlocutors, societies and schools that made up a vast clay community in the region from the 1930s to the early 2000s.
This exhibition will be accompanied by a publication.
Organized by the Vancouver Art Gallery and Curated by Diana Freundl, Senior Curator, Michael J. Prokopow, Independent Curator, and Stephanie Rebick, Director of Publishing & Content Strategy, with Andrea Valentine-Lewis, Curatorial Assistant
The Jane Irwin and Ross Hill Contemporary Arts Fund