Gow Langsford picks up Virginia Leonard

Gary Langsford tells me he has had a strong interest in ceramic works for more than 40 years. So it comes as no surprise then that his Auckland gallery announced its representation of New Zealand ceramic artist Virginia Leonard. “Virginia’s ceramics embody the best of all this is creatively possible with the medium,” says Langsford. “They push the boundaries and are as much sculpture as vessel.”

Gow Langsford expect gallery patrons to respond well to Leonards’s work, admitting that her works are very unlike work by any other artist in their stable. While Leonard has only been practicing as a ceramic artist since 2013, her success is palpable. Her work was acquired by Art Gallery of New South Wales for their collection in 2018 and her work Tippy Toes was exhibited at Installation contemporary in 2017. Now with representation by Paulnache and Gow Langsford in New Zealand, as well as Martin Browne Contemporary in Sydney, Leonard’s ceramic self-portraits are sure to reach new heights.

Langsford thinks the self-portrait aspect of Leonard’s work is an integral part of their creation. “The pure physicality involved means the artist becomes part of the finished work,” he says. “The scale of the work also adds to the “body” or portrait aspect of the work. They feel human sized and as strong as the artist herself.”

Virginia Leonard’s first solo show with Gow Langsford will run from 9 June to 4 July. Please confirm dates with the gallery amidst COVID-19 closures.

Image: Inside Virginia Leonards’ studio. Photo: Tobias Kraus