BSU welcomes ceramicist as artistic fellow
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Ceramicist and BSU masters graduate acts as visiting artistic fellow
Thursday, 27 March, 2025This past semester from September 2024 till February 2025, BA Hons Creative Arts Practice students were lucky enough to be joined by ceramicist and BSU alum Jo Taylor as a visiting artistic fellow, while she worked on a new body of work for an exhibition.
Jo’s practice is based in Wiltshire, and she is represented by Vessel gallery in London, Rabley Gallery in Marlborough and Culture Object in New York. She graduated with a masters in Ceramics from BSU in 2012.
During her time as an artistic fellow, Jo has been based in the Locksbrook ceramic workshops where she made a series of large-scale hand-built pieces to be displayed at Collect 25 - an international art fair for objects at Somerset House in London. Alongside creating her own ceramic work, she has hosted several talks and workshops for students and been on hand to offer guidance and advice in the studio. Jo said:
“The fellowship has been a fantastic opportunity to take my practice forwards. Having a clearly defined project and start point was helpful in making the best use of studio time. I learnt a lot from the work I made; I took risks, and it wasn’t always successful but if you are curious and ask questions you will definitely get answers!
“I enjoyed being part of the creative community and working alongside students; it is wonderful to see their work develop as the semester passes. Working with the technicians and accessing their expertise, support and friendship was an unexpected bonus and in many ways a highlight during this time”.
Jo’s fellowship time at BSU also coincided with a new graduate opportunity funded through Careers & Employability for a studio space in 2025 at Clayshed in Bristol. Clayshed was established by BSU graduates in 2019 and provides workshops and facilities for budding ceramicists in the southwest.
Both opportunities are testament to the growing interest in ceramics. Senior Lecturer in Ceramics, Aimee Lax, comments:
“The rising enthusiasm for Ceramics is fully supported in our BA Creative Arts Practice and beyond. We have worked hard in recent years re-establish Bath Spa University as a major centre for Higher Education in this particular art form.
“Students have access to amazing facilities and highly specialised technical support in our Ceramics department. Having Jo Taylor with us in semester 1 has been a wonderful opportunity for our students to soak up her energy, wisdom and work ethic! Jo is an ambitious maker, her teaching across the subject has been a boon for us all, staff and students alike.
“As for Clayshed, this is an extraordinary place! We are so delighted that our graduates have the opportunity to take part in a studio residency post-graduation, so they may continue to grow in a supportive and well-equipped studio in Bristol”.
If you want to start your own adventure into ceramics, our undergraduate Creative Arts Practice course is an amazing place to start. Alternatively, why not develop your practice on our MA Fine Art Ceramics course.