Jago Cooper

The first comprehensive account of the pioneering ceramic work of Julian Stair Julian Stair (b. 1955) is one of the UK’s leading ceramic artists, with a prolific career spanning five decades. Exploring an extensive range of work in different materials and scales, this book uncovers Stair’s role as a key player in the development of studio ceramics. Not only is Stair highly regarded on the global stage, he is also recognised for redefining the field by renewing interest in throwing in the early 1990s, together with Joanna Constantinidis, which enabled younger artists such as Edmund de Waal and Rupert Spira to emerge. Ashley Thorpe’s engaging text gives a fascinating insight into Stair’s evolution, with the ceramic vessel at its centre. Making, exhibiting, lecturing, and publishing are key to Stair’s celebration of how pottery is intrinsic to human existence. Featuring a spectacular range of new works and specially commissioned photography throughout, this beautifully illustrated book reveals the many facets of Stair’s groundbreaking career. "The most profound themes of human existence, contained in a simple pot: this is where Julian Stair is today. In this beautiful book, readers learn how he got here, with many wonders on the way. It is not just a terrific read, but an essential text for those interested in the integration of conceptual depth and material intelligence." - Glenn Adamson "Julian Stair’s work has an unparalleled breadth of expression and depth of resonance. Here at last is the beautiful reflection of his lifelong commitment to the art of ceramics. It reveals an artist who renews our understanding of the vessel, who makes us look and think anew. This is a truly special book." - Edmund de Waal "This book is a testament to the tremendous intelligence of the hand and the ways in which artists continue the legacies of spiritual belief, sculpture, labour and the power of the vessel – big and small – to intimate the truths of our humanity... Julian’s work is a daily, rigorous meditation on the histories of clay and the possibilities of human achievement through this humble material." - Theaster Gates

‘The exhibition is now over, but the splendid book lives on.’ ‘A delightful, very readable eyecandy dive in the history of the cultures of Peru’ ‘An excellent book as you would expect from the British Museum, and a delight to dive into.’ -- Sacred Hoop Magazine, March 2022 The environments of the Central Andean region in Peru, South America, are some of the most geographically rich and diverse in the world. This publication highlights the history, beliefs and cultural achievements of the different peoples who lived in these remarkable landscapes from 1500 BC to the arrival of Europeans in the 1500s, and the importance of their legacy up until today. Over thousands of years, the people of the Andes have approached agriculture, economy, gender, power and belief in fascinating ways. Many archaeological sites in Peru are uniquely preserved, and the book discusses key examples with a thematic and geographical approach. The vibrant and varied material depicted includes ceramics, colourful textiles, golden objects and wooden carvings, drawn from the British Museum and museums and collections in Peru and beyond. When juxtaposed with breathtaking photography of archaeological sites and landscapes, they reveal new narratives about the country’s rich history.