Funk You Too! Humor and Irreverence in Ceramic Sculpture

Funk You Too! Is the first book to connect the history of Funk Art to contemporary ceramic practice, exploring the enduring role of humor in clay image-making. The book showcases over 50 works from a 2023 exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and addresses the historical context for the emergence of ceramic sculpture in 1960s Funk Art.

Format: Hardback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: Hirmer Verlag

Funk You Too! is a groundbreaking book that delves into the rich history of Funk Art and its profound connection to contemporary ceramic practice. At a time when clay has gained unprecedented prominence in the art world as a sculptural medium, this book emerges as a vital exploration of the enduring role of humor in clay image-making. The founding generation of Funk artists, driven by a desire to challenge the hierarchical aesthetic norms that relegated ceramics to the realm of hobby art, employed subversive techniques to undermine the authority of the artistic establishment. Today, in the hands of a younger, more diverse cohort, the irreverent approach has become a powerful tool for critique and personal expression, serving as a "spoonful of sugar" to address the sociopolitical concerns of our time.

Featuring over 50 exceptional works from a recent exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, this comprehensive catalog provides a historical backdrop for the emergence of ceramic sculpture in the 1960s Funk Art movement. It employs a critical lens to examine the works of its contemporary successors, highlighting the continued influence of humor as a tool for tackling personal and political themes. The exhibitions curator, Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy, conceptualizes the exhibitions focus on humor as a means of addressing these important subjects. Additionally, the catalog includes an insightful essay by Garth Johnson, delving into the impulse for humor in American ceramics that paved the way for Funk ceramics. Furthermore, it features comprehensive biographies of the artists, vibrant color images, and a selective bibliography to further enhance the readers' understanding and appreciation of this dynamic artistic movement.

Weight: 960g
Dimension: 305 x 229 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783777440941