Visual Arts

Petra Bittl is one of Germany's leading ceramicists and this small new show demonstrates her fine art origins - she treats her work very much as painting and drawing but using clay as her medium....her canvas, her paper and the sculptural ceramic works that she produces are quite unique.

There will also be a private view on Monday 9 March 2009 (5pm - 7pm), which is also an opportunity to see the Damien Hirst exhibition of etchings, "In a Spin, the Action of the World on Things, Volume II" as well as the Sophie Calle video "Unfinished" which also opens on the same day. Everyone is welcome.

Petra did her initial training in ceramics at the vocational school in Landshut, Germany. After qualifying, she did further training at the State Technical College for Ceramics Design in Höhr-Grenzhausen, where she graduated, specialising in vessel ceramics under Wolf Matthes. She then pursued her studies at the Institute of Ceramic and Glass Arts in Höhr-Grenz-hausen, where she was awarded a degree as a ceramic artist.

She has had her own studio in Bonn since 2003, and her work has been exhibited in the UK, South Africa, Belgium, Taiwan, China and Australia, as well as all over her native Germany.

Petra explains the rationale behind her work:

"The decision, whether to become a painter or a ceramist, was very hard for me. I finally chose to study ceramics, but I soon discovered that in creating ceramic-art, I can be both: My work is painted, scratched, inlayed with porcelain and decorated with slips."

"The painted elements are simple: circles, spots and lines compliment the hand built and thrown forms rather than destroy them. By the way, I have never regretted my decision."

The Petra Bittl exhibition runs from Monday 9 March until Friday 17 April 2009 on the first floor, Blenheim Walk building, Leeds College of Art & Design (directly up the main staircase).