Melt, Drip, Lustre
30 March - 20 April 2022

Melt, Drip, Lustre is an exhibition of fresh works by Sydney-based ceramic artist Luke Ryan O’Connor.

Recently presented at Bega Valley Regional Gallery’s pop-up gallery space,  these new works see O’Connor continue his process driven exploration of the ceramic vessel through intriguing experiments into colour, texture and form. Made in the context of the ongoing pandemic and the 2021 Sydney Lockdown, the exhibition sees the artist embrace the limitations of working within his home studio to create a multitude of small-scale alluring vessels. Approaching making in a playful manner his sculptures incorporate a combination of throwing on the potter’s wheel, coiled hand building and haphazard slip cast additions. While referencing the utilitarian language embedded in the history of ceramics the work remains formally and functionally ambiguous. Conceptually O’Connor’s practice plays to notions of queer adversity, to celebrating scars and dissociating enhancement from conventional ideals of perfection. His work has been exhibited across Australia as well as recent international shows in New Zealand & Germany.

(To view and purchase artworks from this series, including pricing details, scroll to the end of this online exhibition page).

“Presenting something that is misshapen and maybe not as traditionally functional but that is still beautiful, to me is representative of the queer experience. These pieces are these things that sit very much outside what ceramics should be, or what people’s ideas of what ceramics should be. And that is what it’s like growing up queer sometimes. Art was always my refuge, growing up in such a rural area. It was my ticket to living an interesting life.”

-Luke Ryan O’Connor, 2021 

View all of the artworks in this online exhibition below. Please click on artwork to view in full screen mode. 

All prices are in Australian dollars and inclusive of GST. Freight and shipping costs not included. Please contact the gallery for assistance with freight and shipping. Prices are correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice. For sales enquiries email: info@artereal.com.au

Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL Polychrome Vessel, Beige & copper green + Taupe melt

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Platinum Lustre
26 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Big Barrel Vessel, Pink & Chartreuse

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, platinum Lustre
32 x 25 x 25cm
$1,800
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Big Barrel Vessel, Turquoise & Gold Lustre

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
32 x 25 x 25cm
$1,800
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Monochrome Metallic Gold (1)

2021
Stoneware, Gold Glaze
27 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Monochrome Full Metallic Gold (2)

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
29 x 19 x 19cm
SOLD
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Monochrome Full Metalic Gold (3)

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
29 x 19 x 19cm
SOLD
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Blue & Orange + Platinum Lustre

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Platinum Lustre
28 x 19 x 19cm
SOLD
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Yellow & Grey + Gold Lustre

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
28 x 19 x 19cm
SOLD
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel Pink & Lime Green + Gold Lustre

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
27 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel Yellow & Blue + Gold Lustre

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
24 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Charcoal & Blue

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Platinum Lustre
27 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Pink & Buttercup Melt

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold & Pink Lustre
26 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Pink

2021
Green + Gold Lustre, Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
26 x 17 x 17cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Yellow & Green + Beige Melt

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
26 x 17 x 17cm
SOLD
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Yellow, Grey & Pink

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, platinum Lustre
26 x 17 x 17cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome vessel, Turquoise & Beige Melt

2021
Stoneware, Glaze, Gold Lustre
27 x 18 x 18cm
SOLD
Luke Ryan O'Connor

MDL, Polychrome Vessel, Chartreuse + Gold Lustre

2021
Stoneware, glaze, gold lustre
27 x 18 x 18cm
$1,100
Buy Now

Upcoming Exhibition

main gallery
Nicole Welch
18 October - 16 November 2024

Previous Exhibition

main gallery
Noula Diamantopoulos
5 September - 8 September 2024