Rupert Spira

Rupert Spira was born in London in 1960. His first brush with studio pottery was a Michael Cardew exhibition in 1975; he then trained with Michael for two years whilst studying. Rupert graduated from West Surrey College of Art and Design under Henry Hammond with a BA Hons in 1983. Afterwards Rupert set up his first studio at Lower Froyle in Hampshire in 1984 and then in 1996 he moved to Shropshire to continue his work.

In the late 1990s Spira began to introduce words to his ceramics - poetry, often his own - painstakingly incised or embossed using the sgraffito technique. At times the words are indistinct, their meaning elusive; elsewhere they are clear and precise. They add a different dimension to our reading of the pots and have a serene, almost meditative quality. The desire to communicate is central to his work.

Rupert is also a spiritual teacher and writer in the branch of non-duality (Advaita, in Sanskrit), exploring the nature of experience in his essays and texts. He has published several books, and a few DVDs with interviews. He holds regular meetings and retreats in the UK, Europe and the US.

Rupert was active as a potter for more than 30 years, during which time he achieved international renown. His work can be found in private and public collections throughout the world, including the V&A, the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.

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