Ceramic ornaments, glazed flowers await visitors at Bengaluru Studio Potters Market

Ceramic artwork by Vedhi Dedhia
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Just in time for the festive gifting season ahead, the third edition of the Bengaluru Potters’ Market — to be held this week — will bring together 34 studio potters from across the country. “This year’s event stands out for its fresh talent, with 19 artists presenting their work in Bengaluru for the very first time ever,” says Kshitija Mitter, who launched Bengaluru Studio Potters Market with Nalini Thyagarajan in 2016.

Product showcases aside, the duo also have a few collaborative showcases by potters from Maharashtra and a mother-daughter duo from Punjab. 

Miniature animals by Bhuvaneshwari B A
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Bhuvaneshwari BA, who specialises in glazed miniature animals, says her art journey started through “exploring several media before finding comfort in the tactile medium of clay”. “Initially, it was out of necessity that I started making animal figurines because I wanted to understand ceramic materials better. As less materials were involved, it meant less wastage, and gave me the flexibility to move around with them: either to bake or glaze them in studios around Bengaluru,” says the Coorg-based artist, adding that she also experiments with wood ash, shell lime and oxide rocks, to create textures for some miniature animals.

At the market, Bhuvaneshwari will bring miniature elephants, giraffes, foxes, bulls, dogs and other creatures in the form of jewellry; mugs, fish wall decor, miniature ramen bowls, and more .

Shivu Mahesh’s amplifiers
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Kshitija adds that beyond functional ware, one can discover intricate miniatures in animal forms and terracotta pots, vibrant pop-art ceramics, unique teapots, ceramic jewellery, festive ornaments, ceramic flowers, phone amplifiers, and one off sculptures at the event.

Bengaluru-based ceramic and visual artist Shivu Mahesh specialises in sculptural installations — that feature wheel-thrown and altered elements — and 3D printing with clay. At this year’s market, he will be unveiling his signature amplifiers, which will feature a range of new designs.

“These amplifiers will not only showcase different visual elements but also incorporate rustic colour schemes of brown and blue. The new designs aim to enhance both the visual appeal and functionality of the amplifiers,” says Shivu, of the amplifiers that come in subtle wood finishes and rich metallic hues.

Vedhi Dedhia, who hails from an advertising background, uses a lot of design and typography into her products: ashtrays, popcorn tubs and more. “My bestselling works would be the soda cans and ceramic matchboxes,” says the Mumbai-based artist who will be bringing ceramic newspaper vases, soda cans, phantom boxes and pool trays, among others.

Vases by Shreshtha Rakshit 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

If you are keen on exploring how artists draw from Nature, Bengaluru’s Shreshtha Rakshit is all set to bring her “high contrast textural works” on functional ware such as vases, mugs and trinket trays.

“The theme focusses on highlighting the beauty of raw clay. Pigmented clay has been used to being about a wide array of vivid hues, and the surfaces have been worked on with various techniques to enhance the texture, accompanied by a dash of layered glazes to complement the raw matte look,” says the formally trained research scientist, adding that her work is inspired by “patterns and textures found in Nature, the visual narratives encountered during my travels, and the whimsical freedom of illustration”. 

From December 6-8, 11 am to 7 pm at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Kumarakrupa Road,  Seshadripuram