About
Rotation is a form of symmetry. The most common forms of symmetry are reflection, which most people think of as bilateral; rotation; inversion; and translation, which is just moving an object in a line. . . . But the thing about symmetry is it’s invisible. It does not proclaim itself. It’s there, you know, and it has a structural reality.
—John Mason
Gagosian is pleased to present Geometric Force, an exhibition of ceramic works by the late John Mason.
One of the most visionary ceramic artists of the last century, Mason brought his medium into conversation with Abstract Expressionism by extending the physical and spatial properties of clay. He began his career on the West Coast in the 1950s, as part of a group of artists who studied with the pioneering ceramist Peter Voulkos at the Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles. Mason and his contemporaries challenged conventional ideas about ceramics, making large, abstract, subversive works. Mason worked at scale, his wall reliefs and expressionistic sculptural works matching the ambitious painting and sculpture of the era. In his Los Angeles studio, which he shared for a time with Voulkos, they began employing industrial techniques and technologies: humidifiers from fruit packing plants, which allowed clay to stay pliable for longer periods of time; heavy-duty dough mixers; and a custom-built kiln that enabled him to fire works six feet in height, often using up to two tons of clay at a time.
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John Mason: Geometric Force
An exhibition of ceramic sculptures by John Mason in early 2020 focused on the artist’s mature work. In this video tour, narrated by the exhibition’s curator, Rani Singh, Mason’s early career and aesthetic development receive a deeper look.
Now available
Gagosian Quarterly Spring 2020
The Spring 2020 issue of Gagosian Quarterly is now available, featuring Cindy Sherman’s Untitled #412 (2003) on its cover.
News
Tour
John Mason
Geometric Force
Saturday, January 11, 2020, 2pm
Gagosian, Park & 75, New York
Join Gagosian for a tour of the exhibition John Mason: Geometric Force, opening at Gagosian, Park & 75, New York, on January 10, 2020. The tour, led by director Rani Singh, will explore the work of one of the most visionary ceramic artists of the last century. Mason brought his medium into conversation with Abstract Expressionism by extending the physical and spatial properties of clay. Singh will discuss the arc of Mason’s artistic career, his innovative technical developments, and the artworks on display. To attend the free event, RSVP to nytours@gagosian.com. Space is limited.
John Mason, Crosses, Three of a Kind, 2004 © 2004 Estate of John Mason. All rights reserved. Photo: Jeff McLane