Ceramics

Acquired Taste

Rylan Cocks

Approaching my work with maximalist sensibilities such as over-patterning, seductive glimmers of gold and silver, animal prints, and the introduction of other mediums such as textiles and rhinestones, my body of work, “Acquired Taste” brings forward a question of taste. This question is not so much imposed on what makes good taste and what makes bad, but rather how taste is inevitably decided by an individual, and should be celebrated for that. Grounding this work in the ceramic art history cannon through the scope of kitsch and decorative is also integral to my practice. The use of found objects from thrift stores furthers ideas of how value is imposed on objects, but how we can also impose our own value onto these trinkets by showing our care for them. These fast paced, flowery, often tacky trinkets found in second hand stores and grandma’s display cabinets, converge with baroque sensibilities I reference in my forms and surfaces to create an unknown to what is good and what is bad. By showing our love for these objects, it stands against all notions of monetary value. Camp as an artistic sensibility shows itself often in my work, however, I continue to be sincere about all of the choices I make. I’ve created my work very genuinely. All pieces featured on this site are part of “Acquired Taste”, though some are not featured in The Show.