RCA Ceramics & Glass Award

2023 Royal Over-Seas League RCA Ceramics & Glass Award

Alexander Aitken, Sea Horizons Vase

Sea Horizons Vase by Alexander Aitken was selected for Australian euphonium player James Blackford, recipient of 2023 Lorna Viol Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Musician from overseas.

The Sea Horizons Vase is crafted using the historic technique of maiolica glazing, serving as a tangible testament to the rich history of travel and cultural exchange. Maiolica, originating in the Islamic world and subsequently spreading to Europe, embodies a captivating fusion of diverse artistic influences that have traversed continents and civilisations. By employing this technique, the vase becomes a material representation of the interconnectedness of cultures and the exchange of ideas across borders.

In paying homage to the journey of maiolica, the Vase embraces the vibrant colours that have historically defined this exquisite art form, combining red to yellow tones of locally sourced iron-based pigments with the vibrant blue hue derived from cobalt, a non native, imported material. The Sea Horizons Vase stands as a lasting tribute to exploration, cultural exchange, and the enduring beauty of ceramic craftsmanship.

“Location and context is an overwhelming condition, I find unpicking can be curious.’” –  Alexander Aitken

Alexander Aitken is a ceramic sculptor and draftsperson from Kent living and working in London. He is 2021-2023 RCA Griffin Scholar, studying Ceramic and Glass MA and graduated with honours from Camberwell College of Arts Sculpture BA in 2018.

• Royal College of Art, Masters of Ceramics and Glass, Griffin Scholar, 2021-2023
• Camberwell College of Arts (University of the Arts London), Bachelor of Sculpture, 2018
• University of Creative Arts Epsom, Foundation Diploma in Fine Art, 2016

Select Exhibitions, Events and Installations

2023 Changing Room Gallery x The House of St Barnabas, London
2023 Fermenting, London
2023 Sharp Minds, Special Dispensaries, Norfolk
2023 Amber Rooms, 180 The Strand, London
2022 Loam Lounge, Well Projects, London
2022 Pump House, London
2022 Still Life, OHSO, London
2022 Window Display, Well Projects, Margate
2021 Breakfast and Dining room installation, Grafton Street Arts Club, London
2021 Brockley Gardens Raffle, Brockley Gardens, London
2021 New Friends – Old Friends, Collective Ending HQ, London
2021 Alumni Entrance Cabinet, Camberwell College of Arts, London