Magdalene Odundo was born in Nairobi in 1950. After education in Kenya and India she studied at West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, gaining a first class degree in Ceramics with Printmaking and Photography in 1976. She then taught at the Commonwealth Institute in London before studying Ceramics at the Royal College of Art, London (1979-82).

For her dissertation at Farnham she had revisited Uganda to research ceramic techniques. At the RCA she developed the hand-coiling technique with which she builds up her asymmetrical, pot-bellied vase–forms. The pots are unglazed; the colour comes from the clay body and thin layers of slip clay while the smooth, glowing surface is achieved by burnishing by hand before and after firing. The pots are sometimes fired many times to achieve the right effect. This is a traditional Ugandan pottery technique called emsubi. Her work draws on varied sources including Mexican traditional pottery and Greek Cycladic sculpture as well as sub-Saharan ceramics.

Her use of multiple oxidised firings at high temperatures gives the black ground great depth of colour and subtlety of reflection and, as each firing is an added risk, makes them more precious.

She describes her approach thus:
"I am extremely interested in the sharing of ideas, the transfer of knowledge for ceramics arts and crafts practice in general, the exchange of academic experience and collaborations with colleagues at other institutions, universities and communities with my emphasis on links with developing countries.”

Odundo’s inclusive approach to the practice of her craft and interest in many clay traditions make her a well-received ceramic artist across the world. Examples of her work are in many public collections including African Heritage, Nairobi, The Art Institute of Chicago and the British Museum, London

In 2001 she was appointed Professor of Ceramics at the University of the Creative Arts, Farnham.

Magdalene Odundo was awarded the Order of the British Empire for Services to the Arts in 2008.

 

Glossary

  • Ceramics

    Clay based products produced from non-metallic material and fired at high temperature. The term covers all objects made of fired clay, including earthenware, porcelain, stoneware and terra cotta.

  • Craft

    The creation of handmade objects intended to be both useful and decorative.

  • Design

    The arrangement of elements or details in an artefact or a work of art.

  • Sculpture

    A three-dimensional work of art. Such works may be carved, modelled, constructed, or cast. Sculptures can also be described as assemblage, in the round, relief, and made in a huge variety of media. Contemporary practice also includes live elements, as in Gilbert & George 'Living Sculpture' as well as broadcast work, radio or sound sculpture.

  • Slip

    A mixture of clay and water mixed together to the consistency of single cream. Used with metal oxides to produce different colours for decoration and to dip pots for an overall coating. Slip can also be trailed, sponged, stencilled, poured and painted onto the pot; and for binding clay surfaces and casting.