![Vortex Vessel (Turquoise\Lime) [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Grainne-Watts-Turquoiselime-vortex-vessel-WEB.jpg "Vortex Vessel (Turquoise\Lime) [SOLD]")
![Vortex Vessel (pale blue/white) [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Grainne-Watts-Pale-Blue-Vortex-Vessel-WEB.jpg "Vortex Vessel (pale blue/white) [SOLD]")
![Mandarin ‘Bindu’ Vessel [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Grainne-Watts-25cm-Mandarin-Bindu.jpg "Mandarin ‘Bindu’ Vessel [SOLD]")
![Vortex Vessel (tangerine / yellow) [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Grainne-Watts-vortex-vessel-yellow-tangerine-WEB.jpeg "Vortex Vessel (tangerine / yellow) [SOLD]")
![Vortex Vessel (red / indigo) [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Grainne-Watts-vortex-vessel-red-indigo-dots-WEB.jpeg "Vortex Vessel (red / indigo) [SOLD]")
![Porcelain double-walled Vessel I, II, III [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FullSizeRender.jpg "Porcelain double-walled Vessel I, II, III [SOLD]")
![Bindu Vessel (Red with Gold Leaf) [SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG-4188.jpg "Bindu Vessel (Red with Gold Leaf) [SOLD]")
![Bindu Vessel (Large Midnight Blue)[SOLD]](https://www.sofinearteditions.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FullSizeRender-2.jpg "Bindu Vessel (Large Midnight Blue)[SOLD]")
Biography
Gráinne watts creates delicate and playful ceramic forms and vessels. Having previously worked primarily at the potter’s wheel, Watts has begun to combine this method with a variety of hand building techniques.
As well as themes of erosion and evolution, animals and animal motifs recur in Watts work. Specifically, she draws inspiration from the various ways animals are used and adorned for festival parades and rituals.
Watts graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin in 1982. She subsequently undertook an apprenticeship with Geoffrey Healy Pottery in Wicklow. She is currently based in Cloughjordan Co. Tipperary.
Gráinne’s current work explores various forms found in the Natural world and organic geometry. The symbol of the ‘Dot/Bindu’ in particular, has many meanings which fascinate her and has inspired exploration in many directions…”It represents the smallest possible mark, pure potentiality and the starting point from which all things arise.” The choice of gently bellied forms and double walled vessels allow the surface decoration to become an integral part of the form. When making the ‘ Bindu ’ series, her aim is to create forms that evoke a visual, tactile and emotional response through form and the use of colour and pattern.
Work held in private collections nationally and internationally
Selected Awards
2017 RDS Established Maker Award of Excellence, and California
Gold Medal recipient.
2017 RDS Ceramics Category Winner
2014 Winner of Ceramics Ireland Award and DCCOI purchase Award at the RDS National Craft and Design Competition
2014 Winner of the Dublin airport authority Commission to design and make the Business2ArtsAwards
2014 Winner of the Mill cove Gallery award of excellence
2013 Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Mill cove Gallery
2012 Mill cove Gallery award for ‘Outstanding Achievement’
2011 Winner of Ceramics Ireland Award, RDS National Crafts Competition, Dublin
2011 The Peter Brennan pioneering Award for Excellence
2010 Winner of Gallery Zozimus Award for Surface detail at Ceramics Ireland juried exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
2009 Winner of the Designyard Purchase Award at the Hallward Gallery Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, Dublin
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2008 Grainne Watts, Solo Show, Imagine Arts Festival, The Granary, Waterford
Group Exhibitions and Fairs
2020 Collect 2020, The International Art Fair for Modern Craft and Design, London
2020 Ceramic Art London. Central Saint Martins, London
2019 Modern Made, Lyon & Turnbull Auction, London
2019 Surface Matters at NCG Kilkenny
2019 Surface Matters at Artesania Catalunya, Barcelona
2019 Ceramic Art London, Central Saint Martins
2019 Surface and Form, Clay College, Stoke-on-Trent
2019 Painters and Makers,So Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2019 Bonhams , London -Auction of Decorative and Contemporary Ceramics
2019 Le Décor Comme Élément Structurel, Galerie Du Don, France
2018 Ceramic Art London 2018, Central St Martins, London
2018 A Pot in the Hand, The Roundhouse Gallery, Derbyshire, UK
2018 CLAY/WORKS, The Printworks, Dublin Castle, Dublin
2017 A vase is a vase is a vase, AD Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium
2017 TOUCHSTONE, Ceramics Ireland selected Exhibition, Farmleigh, Dublin
2017 Millcove Galleries 10th Irish Ceramic Awards Exhibition , Kenmare.
2017 National Craft Awards Exhibition , RDS Dublin , July – August 13th.
2017 Narratives in Making, Ruthin Craft Center, PORTFOLIO Critical selection, Wales
2017 Verve, Blue Egg gallery, Wexford
2016 The Vase – Function Reviewed, National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2016 Irish Contemporary Ceramics at The Barony Center, West Kilbride, Scotland
2015 International Symposium Exhibition at Keramik Museum, Berlin
2015 PORTFOLIO at the Solomon Gallery, Dublin
2014 Centred, Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin
2014 Colour Vision, Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford
2014 Winter Exhibition, The Verling Fine Art Gallery, Dundalk, Meath
2014 Irish Contemporary Ceramics at The Mill Cove Gallery, Kenmare, Kerry
2014 Ceramics Ireland selected exhibition, Pearse Museum, Dublin
2013 Sculpture in Context, Botanic gardens, Dublin
2013 International Symposium, V-oglje, Slovenia
2013 Le Noche Negra International festival, Aviles, Spain
2013 Ceramics Ireland Annual exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
2013 The Golden Egg, Culture night, Cloughjordan Enterprise Centre, Tipperary
2012 Irish Craft Portfolio, Royal Hibernian Art Gallery, Dublin
2012 The National Craft competition, RDS, Dublin
2012 Irish Contemporary Ceramics, The Barony centre, Scotland
2012 Sculpture in Context, The Botanic gardens, Dublin
2012 Grainne Watts and Thomas Wollen, Denis Collins Gallery, Wexford
2012 Sliding Rock Gallery, Spiddal, Co. Galway
2011 transFORM, Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin
2011 Millennium Court Arts Centre, Co. Armagh
2011 Irish Contemporary Ceramics, The Millcove Gallery, Cork (also 2009)
2011 Ceramics Ireland Members Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
2011 Irish Ceramics Sculpture, Cill Rialaig Gallery, Co. Kerry
2010 Sculpture in Context, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin
2010 RDS National Crafts Competition, Dublin
2010 Thrown, The Lavit Gallery, Cork
2010 Healy, Watts and O’Donovan, The Millcove Gallery, Cork
2010 Art in Action, Townleigh Hall, Co. Meath
2009 COAST, Dalkey Heritage Centre, Co. Dubliny
2008 Jerpoint Animal Kingdom, Jerpoint Gallery, Co. Kilkenny
2008 Irish Contemporary Ceramics, Hallward Gallery, Dublin
2008 Ceramics Ireland Juried Exhibition, Dalkey Heritage Centre, Co. Dublin
2007 17 Prime Makers, Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin and Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales
Collections
Design and Crafts Council of Ireland Collection
Office of Public works Collection
Private collections, USA, Canada, Slovenia, Germany, Norway, Australia and Ireland