Rafael has combined earthenware and porcelain, which react to firing in different ways: while porcelain retracts and shrinks, earthenware expands. This therefore paradoxical piece comes from his personal “way of seeing” and “first impression” approach. The idea is that he only considers his pieces good when he opens the kiln and does not recognise them as his work.
Height 35 cm
Length 35 cm
Width 18 cm
© Rafael Pérez
© Eduardo Villaverde
© Eduardo Villaverde
© Eduardo Villaverde
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 Rafa Perez-28 copia.jpg.jpeg)
Rafael Pérez
- Ceramicist
- Haro, Spain
- Master Artisan
Contact
Spanish, English, French
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+34 629756267
+34 629756267
© Eduardo Villaverde
The joy of the unpredictable
- • Rafael works intuitively and spontaneously
- • He uses a technique involving layering two different clays
- • Rafael teaches around the world, from Italy to the US
Born in Haro, in the Rioja region of Spain, Rafael Perez initially studied economics before going to the Escola Massana in Barcelona, where he specialised in ceramics. Rafael revels in the making process, enjoying using different techniques and materials, and the paradoxes they create. For example, he likes to combine materials that react to heat in different ways, producing ceramics in a controlled yet unpredictable manner. He takes great pleasure in the surprise of opening the kiln and discovering how his works have been transformed, to the extent that he doesn’t always recognise them as his.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: © Rafael Pérez
Pieza 10
Photo: © Rafael Pérez
Pieza 12
White porcelain and black earthenware are combined and fired at 1,150°C. The two clays react differently to heat – earthenware expands, while porcelain is contracts – resulting in the black earthenware breaking through the porcelain. Rafael tries to apply his “way of seeing” and “first impression” approach. The idea is that he only considers his pieces good when he opens the kiln and does not recognise them as his work.
Height 29 cm
Length 20 cm
Width 19 cm
Photo: © Rafael Pérez
Pieza 16
Porcelain and earthenware are combined and fired at 1,150°C. The two clays react differently to heat – earthenware expands, while porcelain is inert – resulting in the black earthenware breaking through the porcelain. Rafael tries to apply his “way of seeing” and “first impression” approach. The idea is that he only considers his pieces good when he opens the kiln and does not recognise them as his work.
Height 47 cm
Length 25 cm
Width 25 cm
Photo: © Rafael Pérez
Pieza 17
Porcelain and earthenware are combined and fired at 1,150°C. The two clays react differently to heat – earthenware expands, while porcelain is inert – resulting in the black earthenware breaking through the porcelain. Rafael tries to maintain a balanced relationship with fire: while each has a job to do on its own, ultimately fire and artist work as a team.
Height 43 cm
Length 26 cm
Width 26 cm
Photo: © Rafael Pérez
Pieza 26
Rafael has created a woven basket-like structure from black earthenware covered in white porcelain strips. When fired, the two clays react differently: the porcelain shrinks, while the earthenware expands. As a result, much of the porcelain surface is fissured, exposing the black earthenware underneath.
Height 30 cm
Diameter 22 cm
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