Saturation point is Kyle Johns' first solo exhibition at Foster/White. In this collection, he continues his fascinating exploration of form through multifaceted ceramic sculptures. His signature bright color combinations bring a sense of play while closer inspection inevitably raises questions about process. This generates an appreciation for the complexity of the work and the possibilities of the medium.

"This body of work explores alternative possibilities to structure development through mold making and slip casting processes. In contrast to ceramic factories’ conventional use of these methods for precise duplication, these works push the boundaries of these industrial processes to form one-off, unrepeatable forms. Diverting from traditional mold making key systems that align mold parts for consistency, this approach embraces variability - rotating, alternating, and reshaping mold components each casting.

The plaster mold blocks are created by casting from multiple clay models, which are then cut into specific shapes. The saw marks are deliberately retained, revealing the mold making process rather than concealing it. Industrial methods typically erase any indication of the process or the maker; in contrast, these works highlight the material’s distinctive traits, presenting them as a core focus of the work. The seam delineations, the makeup of the casting slip in drip formations, the texture deposits of slip on the hand painted mold sections, and the duration of time represented by the layers of slip all document the evidence of labor and the materials’ characteristics.

A key shift also lies in reversing the traditional relationship between interior and exterior. An aspect of slip casting is that as the slip thickens, it transmutes the sharp-edged exterior into a softer, more fluid interior. Normally an unremarkable result of the process, the interior surface is explored and used as a casting surface forming the exterior of the work - preserving the memory of the void. The surfaces remain raw and unglazed, drawing from the visceral honesty of brutalist architecture, while the bright, bold colors echo the play of light reflection on the stainless-steel facades of modernist buildings."

(Text by Kyle Johns)