Ceramic vase model “#1855”
Manufactured by Morten Løbner Espersen
Copenhagen, 2016
Stoneware and glaze

Measurements
30 cm diameter x 46,6 h cm
11,8 in diameter x 18,3 h in

Details
Unique piece

About
“The vessel is my object of choice. An archetypical form I’ve spent 20 years making variations on, from the functional and modest, to the aesthetic and sumptuous. Clay is my material of choice, because it contains so many possibilities: a plastic, amorphous material of incomparable formability that can be fired into imperishable, precise forms.”

Biography
Morten Løbner Espersen (b. 1965) is a Danish ceramic artist renowned for his experimental and expressive approach to clay, particularly his bold, vibrant, and complex glazes. Espersen’s work challenges traditional perceptions of ceramics, transforming everyday vessels into dynamic, sculptural objects that are celebrated both for their technical prowess and artistic innovation.

After studying ceramics at the School of Applied Arts in Copenhagen and the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués in France, Espersen established his distinctive artistic voice, focusing on form, surface, and glaze. His vessels, often cylindrical in shape, are deceptively simple in structure but radically expressive in surface treatment, featuring deeply layered and textured glazes that evoke both organic and otherworldly landscapes.

Espersen is particularly known for his mastery of the glaze, pushing the medium to its limits by experimenting with unusual combinations of colors, textures, and finishes. His glazes often appear molten, cracked, or encrusted, and his works are celebrated for their unpredictable and spontaneous surfaces. Espersen has a fascination with the alchemy of glaze-making, which results in pieces that are at once controlled and chaotic, revealing the artist’s deep engagement with materiality.

While rooted in the functional tradition of pottery, Espersen's work transcends utilitarianism, positioning him as a key figure in contemporary ceramic art. His creations have been exhibited internationally in leading museums and galleries, and his unique style has earned him recognition as a master in the field.