Provenance:

Purchased directly from the artist

Note:

PETER POWNING, R.C.A .

“Working with my hands gives me a sense of connection not only with others doing similar work, but with generations of predecessors who lived by the skill of their hands. Those of us who produce work by processes we try to understand and control, by hand from beginning to end, maintain a vital link to an essential aspect of our humanness. It is an aspect of our species which has evolved over millennia and that many who live typical contemporary western lives are quite distanced from. For those people we form a link. I believe there is an innate human ability to recognize and appreciate the handmade, the object imbued with the power of the skilled and thoughtful hand.”

- Peter Powning -

Ceramist and sculptor, Peter Powning lives, and works, as an artist in Southern New Brunswick. He majored in Sculpture and Ceramics at the University of Connecticut in 1971, and has since completed a number of courses and workshops in related fields. He has been making his living as a studio artist since 1972, initially selling work locally but steadily gaining national and international recognition for his distinctive raku pottery and his sculptural work in clay, glass and bronze.

Powning has exhibited internationally and he has won both national and international recognition through a number of awards and commissions, including the Saidye Bronfman Award in 2006. In 2014, he was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from the University of New Brunswick. He is advisor to the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, and a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.  Powning lives with his writer photographer wife, Beth, in Markhamville, New Brunswick.

Selected Corporate, Private and Public Collections

Canada Council Art Bank (2 pieces)
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery Collection
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Chalmers Collection
Claridge Collection, Montreal, QC
Dalhousie University Art Gallery
Dept. of Foreign Affairs Visual Arts Collection, Ottawa
General Foods Collection
Macdonald Stewart Art Centre Collection, Guelph, ON
NB Museum
New Brunswick Art Bank
Royal Bank Collection, 1989.
The Barbara Ring Memorial Collection
The Indusmin Collection
Universite de Moncton Galerie d'Art Permanent Collection
Winnipeg Art Gallery


Selected Public Commissions

2014 Spire Stelae, Cranbrooke Village, North York, Ontario. June 2014
2013 Spiral Stela, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, ON. 2013.
Shards of Time, Harbour Passage, Saint John, NB Spring, 2013.
Strata, Cinema Tower, Toronto, Spring, 2013.
2012 Touchstone, Canmore Multiplex, Canmore, Alberta. Fall, 2012
2011 Memory Vessel, Irving Station Park, Saint John, NB, Fall, 2011
2010 Fantasm, lobby of Festival Tower, Festival Tower, King and John, Toronto (new home of the Toronto International Film Festival),
Split Rock, outdoors in rooftop meditation garden, Festival Tower, King and John, Toronto
2009 Portal, outdoors at Daniels Chicago Project, Mississauga, Ontario, 2009
NEST, outdoors at Botsford Street Fire Station, Moncton, NB
BOLT, outdoors at Saint John Energy, Saint John, NB
1992 Light Spirals, outdoors at Residences of College Park, Bay and College, Toronto Punctuated Blue, Saint John Free Library
1984 Strata, Market Square Convention Centre

Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions

2017 Beaverbrook Art Gallery, curated solo show (upcoming)
2014 Burlington Art Centre, Permanent Collection Exhibition, Burlington, ON
Canadian Imports, Group exhibition, Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, ON
Yesterday and Today, Group exhibition, Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, ON
2012 Studio 21, Halifax, Commissions
2011 Stimularae, Saint John Arts Centre, Oct. 2011
Matter of ClayIII Bancroft-Snell Gallery-Galerie,, London, ON
Boaks, Powning, Wonnacott: Three Takes on the Still Life, Ottawa's Photography Festival X
Wolastoq (Beautiful River), Beaverbrook Art Gallery
2010 Studio 21, Halifax, solo
2009 Unity and Diversity, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, China
SOFA Chicago, with Lafreniere and Pai Gallery
Transmutations, Ingrid Mueller ~ Art + Concepts Gallery,Fredericton, NB, solo show
Flow, Old Government House, Fredericton, NB
2008 Seeking Balance, solo exhibiiton, Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, ON
SOFA Chicago, with Lafreniere and Pai Gallery
The Importance of Being Banff, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
Meaning and Metaphor, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB
Selection from the AGNS Collection; This exhibition consists of 14 works or art by a number of well-known ceramists: Alison Britton, Alan Caiger-Smith, Michael Casson, Andrea Gill, Steve Heinemann, Wayne Higby, Harlin House, Les Manning, David Taylor, Brother Thomas, Robin Hopper, Michael Flynn, Greg Payce and Peter Powning
East Coast Ceramics,, Burlington Art Gallery, ON
Objets de Cultures: de la Nouvelle-France à aujourd'hui , Centre Materia, QC
2007 Habatat Gallery,Tyson's Corner, Virginia, Solo Exhibition
The Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON
Art Wall, Hotel Murano Tacoma, commissioned sculpture
Light Spirals, two 14 foot outdoor commisioned sculptures, College Park, Toronto, ON
2006-2007 UNIQUE, 30 years of Bronfman Award Winners, Canadian Museum of Civilization
Materialize, Beaverbrook Art Gallery
2007 Recent Work, Studio 21, Halifax, NS
Ingrid Mueller Art + Concept, feature, Fredericton, NB
The Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, ON, Solo Exhibition
2005 Florence Biennale, Italy
23rd Annual International Glass Invitational, Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
Lafreniere and Pai Gallery, Ottawa, ON, Solo Exhibition
SOFA Chicago, with Habatat, one of five featured artists
Harbinger Gallery, group ceramics show (Jack Sures, Bruce Cochrane, Jim Smith, Walter Ostrom Jeannie Mah, Les Manning, Mimi Cabri, Peter Powning), Waterloo, ON
Masterworks, group exhibition, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax, NS
Creative Glass Center of America, GlassWeekend July 2005, Wheaton Village, NJ
SOFA NYC, with Galerie Elena Lee
2004 Galerie Elena Lee, Montreal, QC, Solo Exhibition
North of the Border, Habatat Galleries, Michigan
Twenty-first Century Ceramics, Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus OH
Large Work, The Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, ON, Solo Exhibition
2003 Canadian Glass Art, National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Contemporary Glass 2003: 20th Annual International Glass Invitational, Habatat
Galleries, Boca Raton, FL
2002 SOFA Chicago with Habatat Galleries
Recent Work, Studio 21, Halifax, NS
2002-2003 Biennale Nationale de Ceramique, Trois Rivieres, QC
Northern Realms, Vermont Clay Studio invitational, Waterbury Centre, VT
2001-2002 International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton, FL
2001 Transitions, Peter Buckland Gallery
200-2001 International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton, FL
2000 The Sandra Ainsley Gallery, Toronto, ON, Solo Exhibition
Embrace Confusion, NBCC Gallery, Solo Exhibition
Elemental, Studio 21, two person show
Looking Forward: New Views of the Craft Object, V&A Museum, London, UK
Historical Influences, NBCC Gallery, Fredericton, NB
1999-2000 International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton, FL
1999 Screens, Peter Buckland Gallery
1998 Habatat Galleries, Boca Raton, FL, Solo Exhibition
International Glass Exhibition, Habatat, Boca Raton, FL
SOFA Chicago, Sculpture Objects Functional Art, International Art Showcase
SOFA NYC, Sculpture Objects Functional Art, International Art Showcase NYC, NY
Fragments, Elena Lee Verre d'Art, Montreal, QC, Solo Exhibition
Poetry of the Vessel, AGNS
1997-2000 Prix Strathbutler Award Travelling Exhibition. Touring exhibition of the first five winners of the Strathbutler Award. London, UK. Washington, DC. Canada
1997-1998 Studio 21, Halifax, NS. Featured work in conjunction with solo exhibition at Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Solo Exhibition
Peter Powning: Elemental Clay & Glass, Solo Exhibition
1997 Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, ON; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, November 15, 1997- February 2, 1998 - Solo Exhibition
1996 Fletcher Challenge Award Show, Aukland New Zealand
Clay: Medium - Based Practices, Dalhousie U. Art Gallery
Canadian Clay Currents, Pyramid Arts Center, Rochester, NY.
Fireworks, Travelling group exhibition. Fusion: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
1995 Virtual Ceramics Exhibition, NCECA. International juried exhibition on the World Wide Web on Internet
1993-1994 Fireworks, FUSION
Teapots, Gallery Lynda Greenberg, Ottawa, ON
1992 International Invitational Exhibition of Ceramic Art, National Museum of History, Taipei,Taiwan
The International Exhibition of Glass, Kanazawa, Japan
1992-1994 North, International touring exhibition. Nordic countries and Europe
Treasury of Canadian Craft, Canadian Craft Museum, Vancouver, BC
1991 Ancient Origins, America House Gallery, Piermont, NY
1990 Canadian Contemporary Ceramics, Kunst Klubben Gallery, Oslo, Norway
Lynda Greenberg Gallery, Ottawa, ON, Solo Exhibition
Franklin Silverstone at the Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, ON
Sojourn Gallery, Calgary, AB, Solo Exhibition
1989 International Ceramics Festival, Mino Japan
Canadian Excellence in Clay 2, Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Montreal, QC
1988 Canadian Australian Exchange, travelling in Canada and Australia
Going for Gold, Calgary Olympics Show
Lynda Greenberg Gallery, Ottawa, ON, Solo Exhibition
Lee Sclar Gallery, Morristown, NJ
New Canadian Sculptural Ceramics, Art Gallery of NS
1987 The Fletcher Challenge Pottery Award Show, Auckland, New Zealand
Invitational Show, International Gallery, San Diego, CA
International Invitational, Sylvia Ullman Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Galerie Barbara Silverberg, Montreal, QC, Solo Exhibition
Recent Work, Fireworks Gallery, Halifax, NS, Solo Exhibition
1986 Boxes & Masks, Canadian Guild of Crafts, Montreal, QC
Peter Powning & John Ikeda: Traditional and Sculptural Forms in Clay, Beverlee Lane Gallery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
1985 Old Fields New Paths, Department of External Affairs juried travelling international exhibition
1984 Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB
1983 Sound Sculpture and Recent Work, U.de Moncton, Galerie d'Art, Moncton, NB, Solo Exhibition
1982 Raku and Bronze, Cassel Galleries, Fredericton, NB, Solo Exhibition
1981 Gallery Artists, Departure Gallery, Madison Ave., NYC, NY
1979 Artists Speaking with Children, Touring invitational, Owens Art Gallery,
Sackville, NB
1977 Warehouse Gallery, London, England
1976 Faces of Canada, Montreal Guild of Crafts Invitational

Selected Awards and Collections

Honorary Doctorate, D.Litt., UNB, October 2014
Dept. of Foreign Affairs Visual Arts Collection, Ottawa, 2011
Dalhousie University Art Gallery - purchase for collection, 2007
Macdonald Stewart Art Centre Collection, U. of Geulph, 2007
2006 Saidye Bronfman Award, $25,000 link
Arts Builder Program, NB Arts Board juried grant, 2003-4
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, purchase for collection. 2002
Canada Council Award, 2000.
Atlantic Canada Design Award, 1999.
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, purchase for permanent collection Lunarium, 1997.
Winnepeg Art Gallery, purchase for their permanent collection Trilithon, 1997.
Honourary Fellowship, NB College of Craft and Design, 1998
Certificate of Recognition, NB Arts Board for contibution to the arts, 1997.
Creation Grant, NB Arts Board, 1997.
NB Museum purchases: Solar Flare and Step Series for permanent collection with the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts. 1997
Punctuated Blue, Saint John Free Public Library, 2m tall (78 in.). clay/glass commission.
Strathbutler Award. Excellence in the arts. $10,000. 1993.
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, Broken Arch donated by Joan Chalmers, 1993.
Deichmann Award for Excellence in Craft, $5,000. 1991.
Barbara Enser Purchase Award, Fireworks, Juried show sponsored by the Ontario Clay and Glass Asc. Ottawa. 1990.
International Ceramics Competition, Mino Japan, Bronze Award. 1989.
Royal Bank Collection, 1989.
Regent Gallery, Summer Show, Marion McCain Best in Show Award. 1989.
Premier's Prize, NBCC Bienale, 1988.
Bronfman Award nominee 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 & 1990.
Maxwell House Coffee Set National Competition, 2nd prize, 1988.
The Betty and Issac Hamburger Sculpture Award, Academy of the Arts, Baltimore Maryland, 1987
Canadian Craft Show, Loomis and Toles Excellence in Craftsmanship Award, Most Innovative Work, Toronto, 1986.
New York International Art Competition, 1986 and 1987, Certificate of excellence.
Canadian Guild of Crafts, Montreal, Award of Excellence, 1986.
CCC Professional Development Award 1985
Ruth McKinley Award for Ceramics, The Maker's Eye, Harbourfront, 1985.
Canada Council Art Bank (2 pieces)
Bronfman Collection (Claridge, Montreal)
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery Collection
Chalmers Collection
The Indusmin Collection
NB Museum Purchase Award
General Foods Collection
The Barbara Ring Memorial Collection
U.de Moncton Galerie d'Art Permanent Collection
Massey Foundation Collection (Canadian Museum of Civilization)
NB Art Bank
Excellence in Crafts Award, One of a Kind, The Canadian Craft Show.1984

Selected Public Commissions

Spire Stelae, Cranbrooke Village, North York, ON, 2014
Spiral Stela, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, ON, 2013
Shards of Time, Harbour Passage, Saint John, NB, 2013
Strata, Cinema Tower, Toronto, Spring, 2013.
Touchstone, Canmore Multiplex, Canmore, AB, 2012
Memory Vessel, Irving Station Park, Saint John, NB, 2011
Fantasm, lobby of Festival Tower, Toronto International Film Festival, installation 2010
Split Rock, rooftop meditation garden, Toronto International Film Festival, installation 2010
Portal, outdoors, Daniels Chicago Project, Mississauga, ON, installation, 2010
NEST, outdoor sculpture, Botsford St. Fire Station, Moncton, NB, 2009
BOLT, outdoor sculpture, Saint John Energy, Saint John, NB, 2008
Light Spirals, outdoors at Residences of College Park, Bay and College, Toronto, ON 2006-2008
Punctuated Blue, Saint John Free Library, 1992
Strata, Market Square Convention Centre, 1984



Selected Links

powning.com
The Canadian Art Database