A historically significant and brilliantly emotive exhibition, Delinquent Angel: John Perceval’s Ceramic Angels, is now on show at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM). Bringing together a remarkable collection of 38 of John Perceval’s ceramic angel sculptures for the first time since they were originally exhibited in 1958 and 1959, this landmark exhibition draws three works from SAM’s nationally significant ceramics collection.

At the launch on August 30, Alice Perceval, one of John’s three daughters, reflected on her childhood, recalling how she watched her father create many of the angels: ‘I remember watching with awe as the angels emerged from the kiln, and have a memory of him experimenting with crushed marbles in the glaze firings, as well as the mothballs. He was a great experimenter and innovator.’

SAM’s director Kirsten Paisley said: ‘This exhibition celebrates SAM’s special connection with John Perceval and his ceramic angels. John Perceval’s Delinquent Angel (1961) was purchased by Shepparton Art Gallery in 1976. It toured to Italy and China in 1995 as part of a ceramic collection exhibition, becoming the logo for the gallery from that time until rebranding in 2012.

‘Delinquent Angel is the largest collection of the series ever brought together, and marks 40 years since they were last exhibited at Realities Gallery, Toorak in 1974. We are delighted to feature our three much-loved angels in the exhibition, representing a pivotal moment in Australian ceramics from SAM’s outstanding collection.’

John Perceval AO is one of Australia’s most celebrated artists, renowned for his radicalism, expressiveness and prolific output, along with his complex personal life. A member of the Angry Penguins avante-garde movement that began in the 1940s, Perceval joined other Australian art luminaries, notably Arthur Boyd, Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Danila Vassilieff and Joy Hester, to rail against the insular conservatism of Australian society and push for new voices and modes of expression.

Delinquent Angel draws together ceramic angels from major public and private collections across Australia, including The Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery and Shepparton Art Museum.

Until November 24, 2014
Shepparton Art Museum
70 Welsford Street, Shepparton, Victoria
Tel 03 5832 9861
www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au

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