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 Pittsburgh isn't a hotbed of contemporary ceramists, but Ceil Leeper Sturdevant is one of the less than handful of artists who make up for lack of numbers with high quality and an individual vision that puts them in control of the medium rather than the reverse.
A decade after receiving arts education degrees from Westminster College and University of Pittsburgh, she took a glaze workshop at the distinguished Anderson Ranch in Colorado and the heady creative atmosphere pulled her back four more times, including to study with acclaimed sculptor Stephen De Stabler whose influence periodically surfaces in her work. She's also studied in Italy, Greece and Japan, has received coverage by the major ceramic magazines and won an award in the 2000 Associated Artist Annual at the Carnegie. Her superlative exhibition "Ceramic Works in Green and Blue" at The Clay Place in Shadyside reveals a confident and mature artist with clearly defined interests who is in control of technical requisites. Sculptures are subtly toned with washes of brown and aqua, occasionally accented with a pour of melted beeswax or a white glaze that crawls into nubby puddles when fired. Stand-outs among more than 20 fine pieces are "Boat People," bronzed-appearing figures in boats precariously elevated above blocks of swirling sea; the tall "Egyptian Sanctuaries" with temple-like passages and monumental feel; and "Maiden Vessels," which had root in ancient fertility figures, according to the artist, but also reference the history of ceramic vessels. "Works" continues through June 9 at 5416 Walnut St. (second floor; elevator). Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 9 p.m. Wednesday. For information, call 412-682-3737.
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