John Newdigate

John Newdigate (b. 1968) is one of South Africa’s most celebrated ceramicists and artists. Living in the mountainous Overberg region of the Western Cape, Newdigate records contemporary issues alongside the physical landscapes, plants, and animals he encounters. An exuberant colorist, Newdigate specializes in painting hand-built, porcelain vessels using a unique technique inspired by precise and spontaneous mark-making.

Newdigate's signature process involves hand-painting multiple layers of underglaze pigment, reserving certain areas with a wax resist, and then removing surrounding pigments. This process is repeated multiple times, resulting in complex, translucent, and radiant imagery with a mix of sharp and blurred lines that provide depth and perspective.

Recurring themes in his work include plants and animals used to make wry commentary on human emotions and interactions. Recently, Newdigate has ventured into creating three-dimensional renditions of his painted imagery, using fiber-reinforced polymer cement layered over a wooden and PU framework, then adorned with oil paints. This exploration, free from the constraints of ceramics, has sparked a wave of fresh creativity and concepts.

Newdigate’s work is part of several public collections, including the Iziko South African National Gallery, the William Humphreys Public Art Gallery, and the South African Cultural History Museum.