Currently making their London debut at both galleries are the wonderfully colourful, hand-moulded, glazed ceramic works of Dutch artist Fons Van Laar.

Laar’s ceramic works build on the artistic traditions of his native Netherlands. Originally a painter, Laar spent some time researching the special clay and earth-pigments used by Rembrandt in his work, which in turn influenced Laar’s creative style. The paintings Laar created using clay were almost sculptural, and led to his exploration with ceramics.

His vessels thus take inspiration from the work of Rembrandt and from Dutch Delft pottery. In decorating his works, Laar playfully combines these Dutch artistic traditions with his strong interest in images that evoke far away places. Vibrant floral motifs and birds more familiar to his native Amsterdam are thus painted alongside Persian paisley patterns and Spanish knights from the Middle Ages.