Ashraf Hanna
Overview
“Growing up in Egypt I was surrounded by pottery forms that have changed little since the ancient times, classical forms that have filtered through the ages, touched and formed by the hand of the potter. These forms were functional storage jars and water cooling urns. It was not however until I went to El Minia College of Fine Arts that I started to really look at them. Close observation during drawing classes of still life compositions opened my eyes to the beauty and contentment that exist within a well considered and executed form.
Ashraf Hanna was born in 1967 in El Minia, Egypt. He currently resides and works from his studio in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.
Works
Biography
Drawing is fundamental in training our eyes to see, the action of trying to pick up a line from a three dimensional object and marking it down on a paper is a powerful gesture that surpasses the basic skill, a projection of a line that becomes etched in our psyche as we forge an emotional and intellectual bond with such object.
The long hours spent in the drawing studio not only developed the skill needed to make a mark but, more importantly, it was a time of meditation, allowing me to free my mind from preconceptions that normally govern our perception of functional pottery. It had become increasingly obvious that objects derive their value not only from certain inherent qualities and attributes but, crucially, also from how we relate to them in a particular context. This has initiated and shaped my relationship with pottery forms ever since, seeing them as a vehicle of creativity worthy of contemplation.”
– Ashraf Hanna
Exhibitions
CV
Education
1986/89 Foundation and access studies in expressive arts, El Minia College of Fine Arts
1991/94 BA Hons Theatre Design, Central Saint Martins College of Arts & Design
1999 Professional membership: Craft Potters Association
2002 Elected to fellowship of the Craft Potters Association
2011 MA RCA Ceramics & Glass
Awards
2010 Welsh Artist of the Year 2010, Applied Arts Category
2010 Purchase Award, the National Eisteddfod
2008/09 Public Award for best in show, the International Oldenburg Ceramics Fair, Germany
2008 Best of the Best Award at Art In Action festival
2003 Sothebys highly commended award at Potfest in the Park
2002 Peers Award, Art in Clay, Hatfield House
Collections
Museum Ariana, Geneva, Switzerland
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
Bullseye Glass Company, Oregon, USA
Ernsting Stiftung Alter Hof Herding Glass Museum
National Museum of Wales
Contemporary Arts Society of Wales
University of Wolverhampton – Student Award at The International Ceramics Festival, Aberystwyth, sponsored by Studiopottery.co.uk
The International Ceramics Festival – Aberystwyth
Royal Bank of Scotland
Rufford Ceramic Centre – Newark
Cartwright Hall – Bradford
WBBFuchs Collection – Ceramic Manufacturers – Germany
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Beaux Arts Bath
2021
Maud and Mabel, London
Contemporary Ceramics Centre, London
2019
Galerie Ligne Trieze, Geneva, Switzerland
2017
Contemporary Ceramics Centre, London UK
2014
Beaux Arts Gallery – Bath UK
2012
Beaux Arts Gallery – Bath UK
Le Don Du Fel Gallery – France
2011
Contemporary Ceramics Centre – London UK
2009
Beaux Arts Gallery – Bath UK
2007
Beaux Arts Gallery – Bath UK
Bluecoat Display Centre – Showcase Event – Liverpool UK
2003
Contemporary Ceramics – Showcase Event – London UK
2002
Yorkshire Museum – Showcase Event – Curated by Maggie Barnes – York UK
2001
The Mercer Art Gallery – Curated by Maggie Barnes – Harrogate UK
Selected Exhibitions
2022
“COLLECT 2022”, London, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
Ceramic Art London
2021
“Artefact”, London, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
Contemporary Ceramic Art from the Middle East, V&A, London
Crafting A Difference, Argentine Ambassador’s Official Residence, London
Oxford Ceramics Fair, Oxford, UK
2020
“COLLECT”, London, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
2019
“COLLECT”, London, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
Ceramic Art London
Fresh Art Fair, Cheltenham, UK
Surface and Form, part II, Stoke on Trent, UK
Alter – curated by Cavaliero Finn gallery at the Fitzrovia Chapel, London
Showcase with Sue Hanna, Bevere Gallery, Worcester, UK
International Biennial of Contemporary Ceramics, Parcours Céramique, Carougeois
2018
London Art Fair, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
“COLLECT”, London, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
Ceramic Art London
Lasting Impressions – Touring Exhibition – Ireland
London Craft Week, Represented by Cavaliero Finn Gallery
Earth & Fire International Ceramic Fair
Homo Faber – Crafting a more human future, Venice, Italy
The Second Half Career
The Stratford Gallery, Stratford-on-Avon, UK
Oxford Ceramic Fair, UK
2017
“COLLECT” Fair at the Saatchi Gallery – represented by Bullseye Project
Home from Home, Contemporary Applied Arts, London
Grassi Messe Leipzip, Germany
Celebrating Living Old Masters, London
Oxford Ceramics Fair, Oxford, UK
New Horizons, Joanna Bird Gallery, London
A Future Made Miami, Design Miami, USA
2016
Gallerie Du Don, France
The Best of British Exhibition, Mansfield Gallery, New South Wales, Australia
The Gallery at Hexagon Classics, London, UK
Etienne Gallery, Oisterwijk, Netherlands
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK
Emerge 2016, Oregon, USA
Future Heritage – curated by Corinne Julius at Decorex International
2015
Scapes- Exhibition curated by Racheline Michaels at The Gallery At Talbot House.
ST ART Fair Strasbourg, France- represented by Galerie Du Don
“ESSENCE” London Glass Blowing – London UK
The British Glass Biennale – Ruskin Glass Centre
“COLLECT” Fair at the Saatchi Gallery – represented by Ruthin Craft Centre
Ceramic Art London – Royal College of Art – London UK
Puls Gallery – Brussels – Belgium
Emmanuel Cooper’s Legacy – Contemporary Ceramics Centre – London UK
2014
Young Clay – Westerwaldmuseum – Höhr-Grenzhausen – Germany
2013
Young Clay – Keramiekcentrum Tiendschuur – Tegelen – Netherlands
Living with Ceramics – Two person exhibition with Natasha Daintry
The Gallery at Talbot House – Curated by Racheline Michaels – London UK
2012
“COLLECT” Fair at the Saatchi Gallery – Represented by Ruthin Crafts Centre
“Figure, Form & Material” Ashraf & Sue Hanna at Rufford Craft Centre
“In Situ” Group Exhibition -The Civic Art Centre – Barnsley – West Yorkshire
“Earth” Group Exhibition – Ruthin Craft Centre – Wales
Ceramic Art London Fair – Royal College of Art – London UK
Group Exhibition – The Gallery at Talbot House – London UK – Curated by Racheline Michaels
2011
MA Graduation Show – Royal College of Art – London UK
“In Situ – Group Exhibition – The Civic Art Centre – Barnsley – West Yorkshire
“Earth” Group Exhibition – Ruthin Crafts Centre – Wales
Ceramic Art London Fair – Royal College of Art – London UK
Group Exhibition – The Gallery at Talbot house – Curated by Racheline Michaels
Le Don Du Fel Gallery – Three Artist-Makers – France
Welsh Artist of The Year Exhibition – St David’s Hall – Cardiff
The National Eistedfodd – Wales
2009
Ceramic Art London Fair at the RCA- London
Art in Action – Invited Demonstrator – Waterperry House & Gardens
Oldenburg international Ceramic Fair – Germany
Westerwald Preis Exhibition – Westerwaldmuseum – Hohr-Grenzhausen – Germany
Westerwald Preis – Touring Exhibition – Museum of International Art, Grimmerhus – Denmark
Westerwald Preis – Touring exhibition – Kammerhof Museen – Gmunden – Austria
2008
Formed in Fire – Group Exhibition – The Leach Pottery – St. Ives
Joint Exhibition with Sue Hanna – Rufford Craft Centre
Ceramic Art London Fair at the Royal College of Art – London
Joint Exhibition with Sue Hanna – Tenby Museum – Wales
2007
Clay14 Group Exhibition – Woodbury Studio Gallery
Art in Action – Invited Demonstrator – Waterperry House & Gardens
Solo Showcase Event – Liverpool Arabic Festival – Bluecoat Display Centre
CPA AT FIFTY – Touring Exhibition
17 Prime Makers – Group Exhibition – Ireland & Wales
“Monochrome” – Group Exhibition – Contemporary Ceramics Gallery – London
Ceramic Art London Fair at the Royal College of Art – London UK
2006
Joint Exhibition with Deirdre Burnett – Alpha House Gallery – Dorset
Ceramic Art London Fair at the Royal College of Art – London UK
“COLLECT” Fair – Victoria & Albert Museum – Represented by Contemporary Ceramics
2005
“Ceramic Art London” – Fair at the Royal College of Art – London UK
“HAYES & HANNA’ – Two-Person Show – Rufford Ceramic Centre
“New Directions” – Group Show/Book Launch Exhibition for Tim Andrews at Alpha House
“Smoke-Fired in Britain” – Group Exhibition – Loes & Reinier Gallery – Netherlands
“COLLECT” Fair – Victoria & Albert Museum – Represented by Contemporary Ceramics
2003
“Clay Ten”- Group Show – Woodbury Studio Gallery – Devon
“Solo Showcase” – Contemporary Ceramics Gallery – London UK
Group Show with Duncan Ross and John Ward – Curated by Tim Boon at Alpha House
2002
SOFA – CHICAGO – Represented by Contemporary Ceramics
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