DiscoverCraft makers and the evidence for their practice
Portrait of Jean-Nicolas Gérard.
Portrait of Jean-Nicolas Gérard. · Source: Goldmark Art (blog). · Headshot source page for Jean-Nicolas Gérard · Headshot image for Jean-Nicolas Gérard
Materials
clay, earthenware
Classification
ceramics

All makers

Jean-Nicolas Gérard

Jean-Nicolas Gérard is a potter who works in terre vernissée, with an atelier in Valensole in the Alpes de Haute-Provence. In his own words he draws on contemporary painting and Japanese ceramics. A chronology reproduced by his Valensole atelier lists a return to the potters of Burkina Faso in 1990 and an artist residency in Japan in 2002. [11, 16, 17]

Profile

Background

Jean-Nicolas Gérard was born in Brazzaville and returned to France in 1961, growing up and working thereafter in the South—Grasse, Marseille and eventually the Plateau de Valensole. He began ceramics in 1978, studying with Jean Biagini at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence and also training in Claire Bogino's studio. After a short period working in stoneware, he shifted toward wood-fired terre vernissée / slipware and established the Valensole workshop that has been his base since 1983.

Gérard did not arrive at Provençal slipware as an inherited rural potter; he chose a vernacular technology after art-school and studio training. His large plates, bowls, jugs and garden/table vessels remain objects of use, while brushed slips and incised lines carry the energy of painting. His own writing repeatedly describes a double culture—potterly and pictorial—rather than a hierarchy in which painting elevates humble pots.

In 1990 he returned to Africa to work around women potters in Burkina Faso, and later residencies or teaching took him to Japan, China, the United States, Australia, Korea and elsewhere. The Valensole landscape and table remain his base.

Practice

In his words, terre vernissée (slipware) is a traditional technique he accepts and questions; he values its ability to bring joy to the kitchen table and the garden, and says it gives him emotions as intense as contemporary painting or Asian ceramics. A third-person essay on his site says the earthenware is fired in a gas kiln chosen to give firings comparable to wood firing. [11, 18, 17, 19]

Work over time

  1. Relocation Returned to France from Congo. · France, France [11, 9]
  2. Education Began ceramics studies under Jean Biagini at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence; Ceramic Review dates this study to 1976. · École des Beaux-Arts, Aix-en-Provence · Aix-en-Provence, France [11, 9, 17]
  3. Apprenticeship Trained in the studio of Claire Bogino (Ceramic Review also names Paul Salmona). · Teacher: Claire Bogino. Period: 1979. [17]
  4. Studio Open Established his workshop in Valensole, where it has remained. · Valensole, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France [11, 16, 9]
  5. Return to Burkina Faso Returned to Africa to work with the women potters of Burkina Faso, as listed in the atelier's travel chronology. [11]
  6. ARgile West Africa pottery programme A photograph of pottery-making at Tchériba, Burkina Faso, is credited to Daphne Corregan and Jean-Nicolas Gérard of the association ARgile; the programme ran 1991 to 1995 and the page does not date this photograph or say which of his stays it records. · Tchériba, Burkina Faso [25]
  7. ARgile Africa project, Tchériba A photograph of a pottery firing at Tchériba, Burkina Faso, dated 1993 in its caption, is credited to Daphné Corrégan and Jean-Nicolas Gérard in the Musée des Confluences archive of the ARgile Africa project, which ran 1991-1995. · Tchériba, Burkina Faso [26]
  8. Oregon College of Art and Craft Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Oregon College of Arts and Craft. [11]
  9. Residency Artist in residence in Japan, as listed in the atelier's travel chronology. · Japan, Japan [11]
  10. Exhibition in Bizen His own site has a gallery page titled 'Exposition à Bizen, Japon (2005)' with two photographs of an exhibition; the page gives no venue, organizer or dates and is not reconciled with the 2002 Japan stay recorded earlier. · Bizen, Japan [23, 24]
  11. Fuping Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Fuping. [11]
  12. Archie Bray Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Archie Bray. [11]
  13. Gulgong Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Gulgong. [11]
  14. Aberystwyth Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Aberystwyth. [11]
  15. Teaching Demonstrator at the International Ceramics Festival, Aberystwyth. · Aberystwyth, United Kingdom [9]
  16. Sanbao Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Sanbao. [11]
  17. Archie Bray Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Archie Bray. [11]
  18. Invited visiting artist Listed among the Archie Bray Foundation's past invited visiting artists. [21]
  19. Ash Street Project Listed in the atelier's travel chronology: Ash Street Project. [11]
  20. Residency Visiting artist at the Ash Street Project for the month of November, working with an iron-rich terracotta clay body, new slips and commercial underglazes rather than his usual lead-glaze palette. · institution: Ash Street Project · Ash Street Project, Oregon, United States [27, 11]

Bibliography

Collections

  • owned holding — Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth University museum and collections: One ceramic pot with lid. [9]
  • owned holding — School of Art Museums, Aberystwyth University: Pot with lid [9]

References

  1. Ceramics Aberystwyth profile
  2. Large lidded soup tureen — Goldmark
  3. Large square slab platter — Goldmark
  4. Plate, 2026 — Goldmark
  5. Moly shop — Moly-Sabata
  6. Headshot source page for Jean-Nicolas Gérard Retrieved 2026-10-01
  7. Headshot image for Jean-Nicolas Gérard Retrieved 2026-10-01
  8. Jean-Nicolas Gérard Exhibition 2026
  9. Jean-Nicolas Gerard — Aberystwyth University collection
  10. Moly shop hors-les-murs — Art-o-rama 2024
  11. Jean-Nicolas Gérard, le potier — L'Atelier Jardin
  12. Exposition Poteries — Jean-Nicolas Gérard, Porspoder 2026
  13. Artists exhibited since 1997 — Galerie de l'Ancienne Poste
  14. Exposition Poterie de Jean-Nicolas Gérard Retrieved 2026-10-02
  15. Exposition Poterie de Jean Nicolas Gérard Retrieved 2026-10-02
  16. Festival Céramique en Fête - Sadirac Retrieved 2026-10-02
  17. Vive la terre vernissée Retrieved 2026-10-02
  18. Jean-Nicolas GERARD' studio and work - L'Atelier Jardin Retrieved 2026-10-02
  19. Profile: Jean-Nicolas Gerard: The Potter's Potter - We Love Clay Retrieved 2026-10-02
  20. Past Residents - Archie Bray Foundation Retrieved 2026-10-02
  21. Past Invited Visiting Artists - Archie Bray Retrieved 2026-10-03
  22. Exposition « Terre d'Afrique, Retour d'Afrique » (United Fashion For Peace) Retrieved 2026-10-03
  23. Exposition à Bizen, Japon (2005) - L'Atelier Jardin Retrieved 2026-10-03
  24. Les voyages de Jean-Nicolas - L'Atelier Jardin Retrieved 2026-10-03
  25. Potières d'Afrique - Voyage au coeur d'une tradition contemporaine - Artpassions Retrieved 2026-10-03
  26. Le fonds ARgile - Musée des Confluences Retrieved 2026-10-03
  27. Visiting artist: Jean-Nicolas Gerard - Ash Street Project Retrieved 2026-10-03