Collections Online

Illsley, Bryan ('I know as little about my work as about my walk, talk or signature. And as when speaking - no matter the subject, complaint or feeble joke - the voice is the same. Its peculiarities of accent, diction, stress or pronunciation clear, no doubt, to a listener but unrecognised by the speaker, being habitual and largely involuntary. Given tools and materials and the practises developed over many years, the work too is formed in a way largely involuntary and unrecognised by the maker. As it says in the song: "It's second nature to me now".' 1937 Born Surbiton, Surrey 1953 Apprentice stonemason 1954-57 Evening classes, Kingston Art School 1964 Assistant, Leach Pottery, Cornwall 1966-82 Partnership with Breon O'Casey Exhibitions include: 1988 Souvenirs From St Ives, Contemporary Applied Arts, solo 1989 Out of the Wood, Crafts Council Clay Bodies, Contemporary Applied Arts 1990 Residency, Chiltern Sculpture Trail 1991 Anniversary Show, Electrum Gallery 1989-92 Jamison-Thomas Gallery, Oregon 1997 Rough Magic, Contemporary Applied Arts 1998 Fifty Gold Pieces, Contemporary Applied Arts 2001 Jewellery by the Top Ten, Contemporary Applied Arts Public Collections: Crafts Council Victoria and Albert Museum Contemporary Arts Society Portsmouth City Museum Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto)