After Fugue

The ceramic works of regional artist, Antoinette O’Brien, often portray the human figure, becoming both portraits of places and landscapes as her mineral glazes melt and froth to emulate sea foam, deep oceans, black stone cliffs, or the surface of a salt lake.

Other ceramic works include quotidian objects — embossed, as porcelain appears to be quilted, like a mattress. With these works O’Brien asks, “What is strong, and when on earth will we rest?”

In the same way figurative works become landscapes, O’Brien’s exhibition After Fugue refers to both personal and collective crisis, as well as the cacophony of complex musical scores which uplift, haunt and inspire. For the artist, all are true.