Peter Voulkos was an American abstract expressionist, overlooked for long as his pushing of boundaries of traditional ceramics was new in the 50s. What appeals to me is his aesthetic of destruction, punching and tearing his sculptures. Ceramics often carry an expectation of well balanced shapes, tenderness and glossy finishes, when in fact working with the raw material is truly tough, often unpredictable and physically exhausting. I see this juxtaposition reflected in Voulkos’ sculptures.