CONCORD, MASS.- Lucy Lacoste Gallery is presenting Ann Van Hoey, December 4 – 31, 2021 in her first US solo exhibition. This exhibition highlights her geometric and sculptural vessels in bold colors such as red, black, and white plus earthier greens and blues. The Belgian artist, a former economist, applies her knowledge of mathematics and love of geometry in her ceramics.
“Van Hoey has what is known as a geometric spirit. She takes basic spatial forms, mostly a hemisphere, as her starting point. Enchanted by the geometrical design of Japanese zen gardens of stones and inspired by the Japanese art of origami, she developed the technique of folding thin sheets of clay. In fact, she cuts to recompose. The result is a deliberately minimalistic demonstration of purity, form, simplicity, sobriety, efficiency and clarity of line, a paragon of geometric and mathematical relentlessness, from which the power of the basic material, clay, radiates.” Quoted from Gaya Ceramic, Resident Artist Program, 2018.
The artist is most known for her “Earthenware Ferrari” series in which clay vessels are painted with Ferrari car paint. This came about because while in the ceramic world she received a good response to her work, in her everyday world, no one noticed…. that is until she decided to combine her earthenware vessels with something known and fascinating: sports cars. Van Hoey decided to go for the red automotive paint Ferrari uses onto their Formula 1 cars. As she says: “It was merely a cry for attention, and I must say that it helped.” The coating is done by a specialist in an industrial environment.
Ann Van Hoey was born in Belgium and started her artistic career at the age of 50 in 2006 after graduating with a Degree in Ceramics from the Institute for Arts and Crafts (IKA) in her hometown of Mechelen. Before becoming a ceramic artist, Ann Van Hoey had a extended career in business, having graduated from the University of Antwerp with a Master in Applied Economic Sciences in 1979.
Ann Van Hoey is an internationally renowned artist with a long and impressive resume. She has been in numerous solo and group exhibitions around the world. Her work can be found in many public and private collections including the KMKG Royal Museum of Art and History Brussels, Belgium; the Museum of Arts and Design, New York; the Musée Ariana, Geneva, Switzerland; and the New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taiwan, to name a few. Ann Van Hoey frequently competes in international ceramic competitions and has accumulated numerous prizes and awards for her work. Ann has been a member of the International Academy of Ceramics since 2011.
After a year’s correspondence, it is rewarding to have the exciting work of Ann Van Hoey in our gallery and introduce her to our audience. Lucy Lacoste
