Biography
José Antonio Sarmiento (b. 1956, León – Spain). He trained from a very early age as an artist with his mother, Alicia de la Puente, and in the School of the web known Leonés painter, Alejandro Vargas. Between 1974 and 1980 he devoted his efforts to painting, and worked as an illustrator in an advertising agency. In 1980, he moved to the country and began to work in ceramics using wood-fired kilns, inspired by the concept of bowls as objects of art; the work of Artigas, Miró, Bernard Leach, Hamada, and the tea bowls made by the Raku family, formed important points of reference for him during these initial phases of study.
Between 1980 and 1987, he travelled and worked on acquiring the technical experience necessary in order to be able to express himself freely: Hikidashi, salt-, soda glazing and wood-firing (1300ºC); He built his own kilns, seeing this as an inseparable part of the creative process.
In 1988 he set up his studio in San Cibrián de Ardón (León), and built a noborigama kiln. Between 1980 and 1992 he undertook various commissions for murals (Luna sube y baja mareas, 1984, glazed ceramic removed from kiln while still red hot (3.5m x 1.5m), pine logs and smoke; Diputación de León Grant. For years he has continued to further his knowledge in the field of bowls (art/life), his over-riding interest in the present: a perspective which he shares with some Japanese artists.
In 1999 he met the prestigious artist Ryoji Koie (Tokoname, 1938), and this meeting confirmed him in his direction; the maestro became his mentor, introducing him to fellow artists in Japan during his stay in 2000. He returned to San Cibrián and built an anagama-noborigama kiln (combining the principles of both types of kiln), the only one of its kind in use in Spain.
In 2008 he established in Gothenburg (Sweden).
With a style close to abstract neo-expressionism, the character and personality of his work reflects the independence of his expression and the concepts he works with, unmoved by passing trends. He has worked towards a formal deconstruction of symmetrical volume, inspired by the natural daily evolution of his work and by the materials he handles. Starting from a sculptural perspective, he looks both to the purest roots of ceramics and to nature in order to then express himself from an informed position in contemporary art. It should be added that in relation to the pictorial nature of his work, he uses oxides and brush applied or expressionist dripped glazes, where the direct intervention of controlled white fire, air and ash can be fully appreciated. As a result of this expressive synthesis –inspired by the nature of the landscape in which he lives and works – his work has aroused the interest of some of the most respected art critics, both in Spain and abroad.
He currently lives and works in Gothenburg (Sweden) and León (Spain).
María Jesús Sarmiento
SOLOSHOW
2018 ”Landskapsmåleriska vaser och fat”; Gallery Lerverk, Gothenburg, Sweden
2016 ”Fuego blanco/Vit eld”; Gallery Kaolin, Stockholm, Sweden
2008 ”Arte y Mística” – Auditorio San Francisco, Avila, Spain
Curator: Kosme de Barañano, Spain
”Reversibles, paisajes-objeto” – Galería Cuatro Diecisiete, Madrid, Spain
2007 «White Poplar”; Galería Azul, San Cibrián de Ardón, León, Spain
2005 ”Después del Invierno;” Centro Hispano Japonés, Palacio San Boal,
Salamanca, Spain
”Chawan de verano”; Galería Azul, San Cibrián, León, Spain
2004 ”Yakishime”; Obra Cultural Caja España, León, Spain
”Hikidashi”; Galería Azul, San Cibrián de Ardón, León, Spain
GROUPEXHIBITION
2019 Saab Art Gallery, Linköping, Sweden
2018 Gallery Sigma, Växjö, Sweden
2017 Konsthallen Kajutan, Henån, Orust, Sweden
Varabygden´s artclub, Vara, Sweden
2016 ”Verk”; Gallery Ålgården, Borås, Sweden
Gallery Hova, Hova, Sweden
2015 Gallery KAZ, Västerås, Sweden
Lerum´s artclub, Lerum, Sweden
”Nära havet”; Gallery Moment, Ängelholm, Sweden
Götene artclub, Götene, Sweden
2014 ”A la sombra del árbol. Otro Arte”. Palacio Quintanar, Segovia, Spain
”Everyday ceramics”; Konsthantverkarna i Ysta, Sweden
”Kontemplationer”; Konsthantverkarna, Karlstad, Sweden
”Landskap för kontemplation”; Gallery Kraftverk, Mjölby, Sweden
”Tabletop”; Arvika Konsthantverk, Sweden
2013 ”International invitational functional ceramic exhibition”; Vendsyssel Kunstmuseum, Hjørring, Danmark
Konstfrämjandet, Västerås, Sweden
2012 ”Wood fired landscapes”; The Röhsska Museum. Design, fashion and decorative arts. Gothenburg, Sweden
Gallery Sigma, Växjö, Sweden
2011 Gallery Anna H, Bovallstrand, Sweden
2010 ”Konstslöjdsalongen”; The Röhsska Museum. Design, fashion and decorative arts. Gothenburg, Sweden
”blås&knåda 35 years”; Gallery Nivå 125, Båstad, Sweden
”Kopp på Kaolin”; Gallery Kaolin, Stockholm, Sweden
”Baltic wood fired”; Bornholm´s Museum, Rønne, Denmark
2009 Gallery Sigma, Växjö, Sweden
2008 ”Nordic wood fire”; NCECA, Pittsburgh, USA
”Nordic wood fire studio exchange”; Gallery Nääs Konsthantverk, Nääs slott, Floda, Sweden
2007 ”Aproximación al Paisaje”; Galería Cuatro Diecisiete, Madrid, Spain
”Regalarte”; Galería Cuatro Diecisiete, Madrid, Spain
”Nordic Wood Fire Marathon”; Børglum Kloster,Vrå, Denmark
2006 ”La Cerámica Española y su integración en el Arte”;
Museo Nacional de Cerámica González Martí, Valencia, Spain
”Regalarte”; Galería Cuatro Diecisiete, Madrid, Spain
2005 Gallery Besson, London, England
2000 Mashiko, Japan
1999 ”Posada del Potro”, Córdoba, Spain
LECTURE AND WORKSHOP
2012 Invited artist – Woodfired Landscapes: International Woodfire Symposium, Gothenburg, Sweden
2008 Invited artist – Escuela de Arte de Vic, Vic, Spain
Foacal Asociación de Artesanas de Castilla y León, Valladolid, Spain
2007 Invited artist – Nordic Woodfiring Marathon, Horne, Denmark
2006 2° Jornadas de Arquitectura y diseño, Lugo, Spain
2002 Invited artist – Agrupación de Ceramistas de Asturias, Spain
2000 Invited artist – Asociación de Ceramistas de Murcia, Spain
1999 Invited artist – Escuela de Artes y Oficios, Mateo Inurria, Córdoba, Spain
SCHOLARSHIP
2014 Konsthantverkets Vänners stipendium
2011 Estrid Ericsons stiftelse
Wilhelm och Martina Lundgrens stiftelse
1984 Diputación de León, Municipality of León, Spain
AWARD
1982 Bienal Esplugues de Llobgregat, Barcelona, Spain
REPRESENTED
Municipality of Orust, Sweden
Municipality of Ängelholm, Sweden
Municipality of Karlstad, Sweden
Architects Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
Fundación Vela Zanetti, Municipality of León, Spain
Municipality of Ciudad Rodrigo, The provine of Salamanca, Spain
Municipality of Zaragoza, Spain