Wönzimer is proud to present Earth Elements: Paint and Fire, a group exhibition curated by Gary Brewer. Bringing together a dynamic group of artists, this show explores the intersection of the ceramic medium and contemporary painting.

The Western tradition of ceramics began to free itself from its utilitarian ethos beginning with George Ohr in the early 20th century. In the 1950s, after a residency at Black Mountain College, Peter Voulkos took things further, creating abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, guided by physicality and improvisational gesture. His work liberated future ceramic artists from long-held traditions of the craft. While Gary Brewer was living in the Bay Area in the 1970s the art world was still immersed in critical arguments trying to uphold some distinction between art and craft. During this time, central to these discussions were artists like Viola Frey and Robert Arneson, who were using the ceramic medium to make powerful works that were irreverent, funny and profound.