Crusty but Compelling

Daniel Labutes
Medicine Hat, AB

Juror's Choice Award

Size

31" x 21" x 21"

Medium

Ceramic, Glaze, Gold Leaf

I am a maker of unconventional ceramics. I call my work “nearly functional,” a hybrid of pottery designed for everyday use and sculpture that disrupts many of the traditional expectations of functionality. I build up texture and surface drama through exuberant application of slip and a variety of glazes to create compelling surfaces that entice touch, but also repel and engage, yet are grotesque. The pots are made on the wheel in sections but are off center. They lean, they have movement and life; each side tells a different story.

Juror's Choice Award

Crusty but Compelling

Daniel Labutes
Medicine Hat, AB

About the artist
About the artist

Daniel Labutes
Medicine Hat, AB

Daniel Labutes is a former professional chef turned studio potter living in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where he works as the Studio Technician for the Medalta International Artist in Residence program. He graduated from the Alberta University of the Arts in 2019 with a BFA in Ceramics with Distinction. His work is primarily functional and explores the concept of unconventional conventional objects. They are made with a combination of wheel-thrown and handbuilding techniques.

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