Daniel Reynolds

Ceramicist

©Martin A. Gomez Reynolds

The alchemist of ceramics

Daniel's inspirations include Jesus Soto and Marcel Duchamp
He is influenced by Venezuela, where he was born
He has exhibited at the Museum of Art and Design in New York

Daniel Reynolds always thought of himself as a sculptor, but by the time he left college, he had lost confidence in the idea of selling his abstract pieces and instead joined a furniture degree course. “One of my projects needed porcelain details and I made contact with Emmanuel Cooper in the ceramics department, who rekindled my love for the material and the methods employed in studio ceramics production.” Cooper helped him hone his skills in glazing and hand building, allowing him to develop his passion for abstract kinetic sculptures. A second influence was Michael O’Connor, an art teacher and passionate collector of 20th century ceramics, who opened Daniel's eyes to the American expressionists Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Motherwell.

Interview

©Martin A. Gomez Reynolds

What inspires you?: Geometry found in the natural world. Everyone thinks that the natural world is all fluid lines, but the composition of all these things is very rigorous and rigid. Also abstract expressionist paintings of the 20th century, Marcel Duchamp and kinetic artists from Venezuela, like Jesus Soto and Cruz Diez.
Why do you enjoy the juxtaposition of organic shapes with manmade objects?: It is something that exists in real life. In everyone’s kitchen, it is not unusual to see vegetables beside utensils like mixers or coffee pots, and I wanted to represent that. Because it doesn't necessarily have to be one thing or another.
Why did you move away from function?: I started making functional ceramics but later I decided to take the risk of making what was my real passion: larger pieces that were not functional but mostly aesthetic. Those pieces have taken me to different countries and allowed me the kind of exhibitions that I always wanted.
What do you love about your profession?: The surprise, the element of discovery. Every time I am on a new project things come together visually in a way that I couldn’t have anticipated and that only happens when you start mixing shapes, colours, materials. I love the alchemy and mystery of it.

Daniel Reynolds is a master artisan: he began his career in 1985 and he started teaching in 2012