Bernard Leach Ceramics

Bernard Leach ceramics on loan to the Whitechapel Gallery

Three ceramics by Bernard Leach have been loaned to the Whitechapel Gallery in London for the exhibition ‘Kai Althoff goes with Bernard Leach’ 7th October 2020 to 10th January 2021. This is the first public show by Althoff in London and incorporates a vast number of his works alongside a smaller number of ceramics by Leach.

The exhibition is part of the Leach 100 celebrations which have been taking place this year to mark the centenary of the opening of the Leach Pottery which was established by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in 1920 in St Ives, Cornwall.

Leicester Museums has 13 ceramics by Bernard Leach within the permanent collection. The three that have gone on loan can be seen in the image gallery below.

Bernard Leach Loan Gallery

‘Solomon Amongst the Lilies’ which is of thrown grey stoneware and was made in 1926
© Courtesy of the Bernard Leach Estate

Stoneware jar, also 1926, with Tesha (lustrous, metallic iron) glaze
© Courtesy of the Bernard Leach Estate

Bernard Leach was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery". He was born in Hong Kong in 1887 and first came to London in 1897 for schooling, after which he studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Art and etching at the London School of Art. In 1909 he went to Tokyo, became interested in ceramics and studied production and decoration under Kenzan VI.

He returned to England in 1920 with Shoji Hamada, with whom he produced a wide range of ceramics and set up the pottery at St. Ives. Many potters from all over the world have been apprenticed at the Leach Pottery, and have spread Leach's style and beliefs. You can find out more about Bernard Leach at the Leach Pottery website.