Steve Cook is a self-taught potter whose studio, Modern Ceramic, launched in 2023. His practice is based on a desire to capture the monumental at small-scale, through largely utilitarian pieces. Steve’s focus is on form and surface, as he looks to create interest in shape at a distance. He rewards viewers on their closer inspection with subtle details revealed in seemingly monochromatic surfaces. His work is designed to be held and used.
Steve is inspired by modernist & brutalist architecture, heavy industry, and the emphatic statement of a progressive, iconoclastic and utopian future that these represent. He frequently combines ceramics with other materials such as wood, metal and plastic; matter that can be worked in different ways, often with more detailed precision than ceramics allow. Steve aims to create distinctly modern, thoughtful, minimal and refined pieces, imbued with innovation, and that respect and attempt to progress traditional techniques and forms.
