Trent Pehrson
Individually sculpted ceramic pumpkins with hand-fashioned filigree and warm autumnal glazes
Explore the Exhibit Home About This Exhibit About the Artist
Ceramic Pumpkins is a collection of individually
sculpted and glazed ceramic pumpkins created as decorative
objects for the autumn season. Finished in warm shades of
yellow and orange, the pieces combine the familiar organic
form of the pumpkin with elaborate hand-fashioned filigree,
sculpted foliage, and expressive curling stems. The
collection explores the transformation of a simple
seasonal subject into a richly ornamented sculptural object.
Every pumpkin in the series was formed and decorated
individually by hand. No casting or reproduction molds
were used. Consequently, each piece possesses its own
particular proportions, surface details, and ornamental
character. Although the pumpkins share a recognizable
design vocabulary, none is an exact duplicate of another.
Their differences are intrinsic to the process of making
them rather than variations introduced after reproduction.
The sculptural ornament is a defining feature of the
collection. Raised filigree follows the contours of
the pumpkins, forming elaborate curls and spirals across
their rounded segments. Leaves extend from the crowns,
overlapping the body of each form, while twisted stems
introduce additional movement and asymmetry. These
details are not merely painted onto the surface; they
are physically modeled, giving the decorations their
own dimension and creating a changing interplay of
light and shadow.
The glazes contribute another dimension to the work.
Warm orange and yellow surfaces evoke the colors
traditionally associated with autumn and harvest,
while the contrasting treatment of stems and foliage
helps distinguish the sculptural elements. The glossy
finish accentuates the relief of the filigree and
the irregularities that naturally arise from
individual hand construction.
The photographs in this exhibit document both the
completed pumpkins and stages of their creation.
Images of the unglazed forms reveal the sculptural
structure beneath the finished surfaces, including
the individually applied ornament and modeled
botanical details. A photograph of the kiln records
part of the ceramic firing process, providing
additional context for the work involved in
transforming the sculpted forms into durable
ceramic objects.
While conceived as seasonal decorations, the pumpkins
also represent an exploration of ornament as an
integral part of sculptural form. Their decorative
patterns do not exist independently of the objects
they adorn; instead, the filigree responds to and
emphasizes the curves, divisions, and organic
movement of the underlying shapes.
Ceramic Pumpkins brings together the warmth
and familiarity of autumnal imagery with the
individuality of handmade ceramic sculpture.
The resulting objects are at once playful,
ornamental, and expressive of the careful
handwork through which each was created.
