Plinth Gallery is please to present the visually stunning decorative and functional ceramics of A.J. Collins. The collection showcased in this exhibition highlights his signature forms, crisp lines and vivid colors used to evoke conceptual landscapes of the places he has lived or traveled to. The public is invited to enjoy the show during the Opening Reception on First Friday, April 5, 6-9 pm, and the First Friday Art Walk on May 3. Regular gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday, 12 pm-5 pm and and his exhibition is on view thru May 25.
Artist Andrew Jowdy “AJ” Collins works out of his studio in Pittsburgh, PA, creating artfully designed yet functional ceramics with the intention of adding meaning and pleasure to the daily life of homes and interiors. He makes his own clay and employs traditional wheel, slab, coil, and slip-casting methods to form the pieces. Specialized ceramic pigments are used to create an original palette of matte colors that come alive within the surface of high-fired porcelain. As his work continues to evolve in dialogue with his materials and the larger world, he develops fresh bodies of work that are released as editions. Crafting each piece is an exploration of shape and hue — the ways they relate to one another and create harmonies of configuration within the whole of the form. Each piece is unique but plays off that edition's common theme.
Born in Greenville, North Carolina Collins attended Appalachian State for undergraduate studies. He took one class at Penland School of Craft which led to an apprenticeship in ceramics. After moving to Los Angeles as freelance writer he dabbled in different types of writing, film work, and journalism before receiving his MFA in poetry at UC Irvine. He continued to enjoy the hands-on nature of clay work as a break from the computer, either writing, or at his day job researching for a law firm. A move to Pittsburg found him in an active and supportive ceramics community where he further developed his craft and nurtured opportunities that allowed him to launch full-time into ceramics in 2019.
Plinth Gallery is an intimate and ever-changing exhibition space for contemporary ceramic art located at 3520 Brighton Blvd in Denver’s RiNo Art District. Established in 2006 by noted ceramic artist Jonathan Kaplan, his transformation of a bland, 2-story warehouse into a dynamic live-work space was honored with a Denver Mayor's Design Award and is now a recognized architectural landmark in the area. Plinth also serves as a gathering place, and educational forum for contemporary ceramic arts through extensive outreach to schools, colleges and individuals seeking to nourish and nurture their creative spirit. For more information visit plinthgallery.com.