Artist Molly Hatch transforms the ceramic dinner plate from ordinary to extraordinary. She finds inspiration in decorative china patterns from across the world, particularly regions rich in ceramic traditions. Each plate features an extracted historical element, such as a specific design or color, that Hatch uses to create a unique pattern in her artworks.
“Amalgam,” an impressive two-story installation of ceramic ware at the Sarasota Art Museum, features more than 400 hand-thrown plates, each painted with an abstract motif. “Amalgam” focuses on the connected global history of blue-and-white ceramics, specifically patterns from China’s Ming Dynasty, Mexican Talavera pottery and 18th-century English china. Swaths of gold paint across various plates emphasize the commodification of ceramics and how past generations valued their wares as prized possessions.
“Amalgam” is one of two installations by Hatch at the museum. “Staccato” is presented in Bistro, the Sarasota Art Museum’s restaurant.
Joanna Robotham is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Check out last month’s piece at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Looking to advertise with us? Find out how.
