His practice of ceramics dates back to the age of eight, when he made his own toys, and ceramics played an introspective role in his development and thinking.
Julien Cadou aka JC Earl, born in 1974, is a French artist renowned for his multi-disciplinarity, working in fields such as painting, illustration, sculpture and ceramics. He began developing his style as a writer in 1988 in the Parisian graffiti scene as part of the VAD "Va Au Diable" crew, and from this period retains a spontaneity of gesture as well as an appreciation for the aesthetics of accident and imperfection. It is this imperfection that forms the basis of his work. Although he now prefers to work in sculpture, his artistic approach has not become any wiser. His practice of ceramics dates back to the age of eight, when he made his own toys, and ceramics played an introspective role in his development and thinking. Inspired by modest art, notably the work of artists such as Robert Combas and André Robillard, JC Earl has developed a particular sensitivity to folk art. As a ceramist, what interests him is clay: a material that has no limits, the accident, the imperfection it can engender to give life to his imagination, creating works that are aesthetically strong and personal. These ceramics may be perceived as almost primitive, but the idea is quite different, revealing a depth and unveiling an artistic vision that transcends primary appearances. A self-taught artist outside the influence of the art world, it is art brut that seems to best define his style.
© Speerstra Gallery