GUEST ARTIST: ARJAN VAN DAL

aliceguillaume3
Aug 28
3 min read

It was such a delight to welcome ceramic artist Arjan Van Dal at Culford Studios on June 12th for a talk with our members and a hands-on workshop on June 14th 2025.

Arjan van Dal is a Dutch potter based in London, working primarily in porcelain. His work finds itself at the crossroads of craft, art and design. Colour and form are the celebrated elements in Arjan’s work. The white porcelain is his canvas that is pigmented and shaped, mainly on the potter’s wheel. His work plays with the idea of the manufactured though formed with his own hands. Subtle details uncover the handmade nature where colour and form create playfulness with a delicate touch. The final pieces are polished intensively for a highly tactile experience and to increase the perception of the colour depth embedded in the material.

During his talk, Arjan shared his personal journey to clay, starting from his origins in the Dutch countryside where he first learned pottery in a monastery at 18 years old. He then pursued an education in engineering and philosophy, and initially worked in (inter-)governmental organisations, amongst others within UNESCO. He quickly realised that during meetings in conference rooms he was daydreaming about working with his hands and making tangible things - so he soon made a radical decision to change career. Arjan moved to London, became assistant to the ceramicist Hitomi Hosono and started his studio in 2015. Since then he has exhibited amongst others at the Venice Design Biennial 2023, London Design Festival 2019 and the International Craft Week in China, and you can find his work in selected UK galleries. In the last 10 years, challenges and opportunities came along the way. Arjan was selected as one of the new maker for the Hothouse programme from the Craft Council. This is an initiative that unfortunately no longer exists, but that used to provide business and creative development support to emerging craft makers through a six-month program which included workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities. Later on, a global pandemic hit and Arjan had to stop his assistant role with Hitomi Hosono. He dedicated this period of time to focusing on his practice and building a body of work. One of his project was about making 365 different forms in a year thrown on the wheel from 365g of coloured porcelain.

Today, Arjan describes his practice as a craft based approach, intended to be able to create and work with his hands. There is also a design aspect to it, where Arjan conceptualises and thinks of details. Porcelain is his defining material, and colour his joy. His inspirations come from the Bauhaus, the Modernist movement, contemporary design as well as colour theories. Artists Arjan admires includes Josef Hartwig, particularly his minimalist wooden chess set from the 1920s, italian designers Ettore sottsass and Enzo Mari, Duch industrial designer Hella Jongerius, as well as Dutch author and illustrator Dick Bruna, known for the creation of children’s books and Miffy, a small rabbit drawn with heavy graphic lines, simple shapes and primary colours.

The small and informal set up of our talks allows for open conversation between our members and our guest. Arjan shared some of his personal insights about working in the ceramic industry and how he personally splits his activity between galleries, direct sales, commissions, teaching and design collaborations. He also gave us some observations and “tips” for new emerging makers. The takeaway we will remember is to find your voice and play! Always keep the joy in your work - which is something Arjan has been wonderfully successful at in his own practice!

On the following Saturday, we also hosted a specialist workshop, where Arjan guided us through his approach to throwing with coloured porcelain. We started by creating stained clay and batches of coloured porcelains. We learned about stains, where to get them, how to use them, and how to develop our own palette of colours from the primary tones. The workshop then continued on the potter's wheel, where Arjan did a couple of demo, effortlessly making some beautiful curvy shapes. It was incredibly helpful to hear his tips and tricks on how to navigate this unique material! We all had a go at throwing a few small and playful geometric forms. The studio was filled with sunlight and our hands covered with pastel-coloured clay - it was a very joyful morning.