Maxwell Mustardo Sculpts Ancient Ornamentation in Brilliant Glazed Forms

""I am always tweaking chemistry and application methods to push certain surface effects that I like, that feel organic and grown. More recent series of work have tried to blur the boundaries of cultural and natural forms (the amphora becomes anthropomorphic, gadrooning reduced to its fruity lineage, and so forth).""

""An ornamental design with curved bands, gadrooning is typically relegated to surface decoration. As the artist mentions, though, he prefers to cast these tapered adornments as the central focus, promptly pushing classical ornament back into their origins in the natural world, from the kingdom of fruits and vegetables.""

Maxwell Mustardo's ceramic creations draw inspiration from ancient Greek vessels like amphorae and kylix, featuring organic textures and vibrant colors. The surfaces resemble fungal or lichen-like growths, creating an otherworldly aesthetic. Mustardo experiments with chemistry and application methods to achieve these effects, blurring the lines between cultural and natural forms. He emphasizes the importance of casting classical ornamentation, such as gadrooning, as central elements, connecting them back to their natural origins in fruits and vegetables. Mustardo operates from New Jersey, where he manages the studio of artist Toshiko Takaezu.

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