Ray Meeker New York City, USA, b.1944
Ray Meeker (b.1944) received his BFA in architecture and ceramics from Pepperdine College, University of Southern California. Meeker moved to Puducherry, India in 1970, where he founded Golden Bridge Pottery (GBP) with Deborah Smith in ‘71. Making them the first producers of hand thrown glazed stoneware in South India at the time. Pottery has remained significant in Meeker’s prolific practice which ranges from modest utilitarian ceramics to monumental sculptural installations and kiln buildings/homes, a result of a fourteen-year experiment in developing fire stabilized mud buildings which began in 1985.
Meeker has exhibited his works at Nature Morte, New Delhi (2021, 2014, 2008, 2004, 2001); Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai (2000) and Eicher Gallery, New Delhi (1996). He has also shown his work at Chawan Expo International, Brussels, Vichte, Nashville (2015) and Singapore (2014); NCECA, Houston (2013, 2005, 1996); Architecture Biennale, Venice (2012) and India Habitat Center, New Delhi (2010) to name a few. Ray has continued to pursue architecture and research projects such as fire-stabilized shrine for Nrityagram dance community, Bangalore (1999-97); Agni Jata, Auroville (1988) on which he produced a video and received an award at the Ceramics Millennium, Amsterdam (1999). He is also a member of the International Academy of Ceramics and has won a joint Outstanding Achievement award from NCECA, Houston (2018) for his nearly five decade influence as a teacher and artist.
Selected Artworks
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2021
Ceramic Sculptures, Nature Morte, New Delhi, India
Fire and Ice, Centre d'Art Citadine, Auroville, India
2014
71 Running, Nature Morte, New Delhi, India
2008
All the King’s Horses, Nature Morte, New Delhi, India
2004
Subject to Change Without Notice, Indian Habitat Center, Nature Morte, New Delhi, India
2001
Kurukshetra, Nature Morte, New Delhi, India
2000
Perennial Earth, Quickening Fire, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1996
Ceramics Show, Eicher Gallery, New Delhi, India
Group Exhibitions
2015
Chawan Expo International, Brussels, Vichte, Belgium
Nashville, USA
2014
Chawan Expo Singapore, International Exposition, Singapore
Bridges, Ceramics in the Golden Bridge Tradition, Forty-nine former students of Golden Bridge Pottery, Puducherry, India
The Stainless, New Delhi, India
2013
Traditions Evolving, Golden Bridge Pottery and Contemporary Ceramics in India, NCECA, Houston, USA
2012
Agni Jata Screening in the Anupama Kundoo exhibit, Architecture Biennale, Venice, Italy
2011
Continental Drift, Woodfire Tasmania, Deloraine, Australia
2010
Golden Earth, 20 Indian and 20 Australian potters, India Habitat Center, New Delhi, India
2009
Pashion, Five-artist anagama show, Sarjan Art Gallery, Baroda, India
2007-08
Earth Synergy, An Indo-Korean contemporary ceramic exhibition, Galerie Nvya, New Delhi
Forum Art Gallery, Chennai, India
2005
Traditions Evolving, Golden Bridge Pottery and Contemporary Ceramics in India, NCECA, Houston, USA
Ardhanarishvara, Exhibition of 25 artists, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1998
Fourteen Potters. Studio Potters Exhibition, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
1996
Traditions Evolving, Golden Bridge Pottery and Contemporary Ceramics in India, NCECA, Houston, USA
1985
Exhibition of salt-glazed ceramics with Dutch artist Johnny Rolf, Adyar Gate Hotel, Madras, India
1980-1983
All India Studio Potter’s Exhibition, New Delhi, India
Awards
Outstanding Achievement award, NCEC, Houston, USA, 2018
Renovation of 25 rue Dumas, Pondicherry, India, 2010
Best Solo Show of the Year 2004, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India, 2005
Agni Jata (film), Bronze medal at the Ceramics Millennium, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1999
Fire-stabilized shrine for Nrityagram dance community, Bangalore, India, 1999-97
Six low-cost fire-stabilized mud houses for the Volontariat, Pondicherry, India, 1995
Fifty fire-stabilized mud houses for Salem DRDA, Tamil Nadu. Six houses fired, one finished, 1994
Design for the Promenade Hotel, Pondicherry, India, 1993
Design for Auberge Hotels, Pondicherry, India, 1993
Staff housing/office/lab/security for Minota Aquatech Ltd., a subsidiary of The Indian Tobacco Corporation, Tuticorin, Fire-stabilized construction, India, 1992
Demonstrated fire-stabilized construction for low-cost housing at Auroville Information and Reception Centre, India, 1991
Satyajit/Chintan house, fire-stabilized mud in Auroville, India, 1990
Built Agni Jata, First fire-stabilized mud house for a very courageous client in Auroville, India. Produced a 30 minute video on the process, 1988
First experiments in Fire Stabilized Mud Building, 1985-87