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A ceramic sculpture of two glossy black figures with white faces on a yellow base. One figure wears a red hat and looks down at a smaller figure looking up.

John Powell-Jones' ceramic creatures of assorted personalities

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Date
8 August 2016

John Powell-Jones is an artist you may recognise. Traditionally working within printmaking and illustration his clients include Kopparberg, Redbull and Disaronno, alongside bands such as Demdike Stare, Mogwai and Moon Duo. As well as being the technical demonstrator in print making at the University of Salford, co-running Risograph printers Mono, John has also been creating ceramic creatures of tangible textures and assorted personalities.

As an audio-visual artist, John has expanded his traditional background of 2D work becoming increasingly interested “in the idea of making my illustrations or paintings come to life.” With his latest collection of 3D works, he has done exactly that. With work conveying “darker themes of depression and anxiety through comic imagery,” John has created an alternative to common ceramics. His individuals will either make you smile or shudder, a reaction which informs the influence of the work. “I’m interested in the split personalities of everyone, the constant struggle and war between these characters.”

John’s mixed portfolio of disciplines and clients display an artist who can channel creativity into to a range of briefs. However, each still piece is still a representative of John’s personality and interests, the ideal balance.

A ceramic sculpture of a sad clown against a plain blue background. The figure wears a white, bell-shaped tunic with a yellow polka dot and a red nose, topped with a small red and blue hat.
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John Powell-Jones

A painting of a pink, amorphous figure with a small white face and a sad expression. The figure is set against a bright blue background alongside a dark silhouette and a yellow shape with red patterns.
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Left

John Powell-Jones

Right

John Powell-Jones

A colourful painting of a stylised, smiling face with large white eyes and a wide black mouth. The figure is surrounded by bold, abstract shapes in shades of pink, yellow, green and blue.
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John Powell-Jones

A small, white ceramic vessel with a glossy glaze and a distorted, face-like appearance. It features two narrow black slits for eyes, a small protruding nose, and a downturned black mouth.
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John Powell-Jones

A small succulent plant grows from a white ceramic pot shaped like a face. The pot features a grey, downturned mouth and simple eyes, giving it a sad expression.
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John Powell-Jones

A painting of a smiley face on a white background. Two black dots for eyes sit above a pink painted curve, with a central collage piece featuring red paint and the word “HA!”.
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Left

John Powell-Jones

Right

John Powell-Jones

A painting of two stylised, ghostly figures with white faces and black features. One figure in black holds the other, who is draped in pink with red vein-like streaks.
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John Powell-Jones

A small ceramic sculpture of a distorted, white figure with blue mottled patches. The figure is crouched with one arm raised over its head against a plain blue background.
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John Powell-Jones

A ceramic sculpture of a slumped, melting figure in blue and yellow, holding a small black device. The figure is topped with red and green organic shapes and sits on a dark oval base against a blue background.
Above

John Powell-Jones

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About the Author

Lucy Bourton

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Lucy (she/her) was part of the It’s Nice That team from 2016–2025, first joining as a staff writer after graduating from Chelsea College of Art with a degree in Graphic Design Communication, eventually becoming a senior editor on our editorial team, and most recently at Insights, a research-driven department with It’s Nice That.

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