Covered Relief Vessel I

About Covered Relief Vessel I

This contemporary ceramic vessel is by Bruce Cochrane.

A masterful ceramicist. Cochrane has been firing clay for more than fifty years, having developed a signature style that is described as both ‘tactile and dynamic.’ His eclectic designs are inspired by the rich tradition of early vessel-making around the world, but they remain wholly contemporary.
This organically shaped piece is designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and useful as a container with a lid. This palette is a distinctive mix of burnished copper hues and a rich, darker patina, which serves to accentuate the generous curved detail. Cochrane is known for using both wood and gas firing, which creates the visible textures and colour variations found in his work. One of a series.

“I live in a house that is filled with folk pottery from our own North American tradition, China and a lesser number of European examples. I have been to Europe three times and to China twice, primarily to get close to the museum collections for a better understanding, not to mention the thrill of being in the environment they were made in.” Bruce Cochrane

“No decoration is a form of decoration. I often look at a pot of his and find myself muttering, "How did he do that lid, how did he do that handle, how did he do that shape, how did, how did, how did.” Professor John Neely, Utah State University

Bruce Cochrane was born in Vancouver. His family moved to Montreal, where he was first introduced to ceramics in high school. He continued his education at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, where he obtained a BFA. In the late seventies, he acquired his MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Returning to Ontario, he taught ceramics at Sheridan College in Ontario from 1978-2010. He continues to hold workshops and exhibit his work internationally. In a career that spans fifty years, Cochrane has received numerous awards over the years and been nominated several times for the prestigious Governor General’s Award. His work has been exhibited internationally and can be found in collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art in Toronto and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). Bruce Cochrane’s home and studio are in Markdale, Ontario.