Maxwell Mustardo's Ceramics Blend Ancient Forms with Fluorescent Glazes
Maxwell Mustardo creates ceramic works that evoke ancient amphorae, kraters, and kylix, but their surfaces are covered in organic, fungal-like growths in fluorescent oranges, pinks, and greens. The New Jersey-based artist, who manages the former studio of Toshiko Takaezu, pushes classical ornamentation like gadrooning into the natural world, blurring boundaries between cultural and natural forms. His pieces appear to glow even in mundane settings, combining historic craft with the uncanny.
Key facts
- Mustardo's ceramic works reference ancient amphorae, kraters, and kylix.
- Surfaces feature organic, fungal-like growths in fluorescent colors.
- He is based in New Jersey and manages Toshiko Takaezu's former studio.
- Gadrooning is used as a central focus, not just surface decoration.
- Mustardo aims to blur boundaries between cultural and natural forms.
- His pieces appear to glow in any setting.
- He tweaks chemistry and application methods for organic surface effects.
- More information is available on his Instagram.
Entities
Artists
- Maxwell Mustardo
- Toshiko Takaezu
Institutions
- Colossal
- Takaezu Studio
Locations
- New Jersey
- United States