Claudio Casanovas

Claudio Casanovas, born in Barcelona in 1956, is a Catalan ceramist recognized for his experimental sculptural works. He initially pursued theater studies in Barcelona before dedicating himself to ceramics around 1978. Casanovas trained in Olot, Catalonia, and was a member of the Coure Potters' Cooperative from 1978 to 1987, a period that fostered collaboration and knowledge exchange, notably with Japanese ceramists such as Ryoji Koie, with whom he developed a lasting professional relationship. Casanovas held his first solo exhibition, "Cortezas de Tierra" (Earth Bark), in 1982 at the Olot Museum, marking a shift from functional wares to sculptural forms. His career includes numerous international exhibitions and awards, such as the first prize at the III International Ceramics Competition in Mino, Japan, in 1992. His works are held in public collections worldwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, and the National Gallery of Australia. In 2004, he created a monument against Fascism in Olot, titled "Memorial als Vençuts," installed in 2006. Casanovas is known for his continuous experimentation with clay, often incorporating organic materials, metals, and metal oxides. He employs techniques such as sandblasting to achieve textured and eroded surfaces, and has developed unique methods like freezing clay blocks before firing to induce natural cracks and forms. His artistic practice is characterized by a focus on the inherent qualities of the material and the unpredictable outcomes of his processes.