A Conversation With Joshua Roberts Studio
Joshua Roberts Studio is a British sculptural studio creating unique cast works in bronze and chalk composite from candle holders and lamps to abstract forms. Founded from a passion for art and materials, the studio combines craftsmanship, design, and sense of form, with all creations produced in-house and at a foundry in the South West of England.
THE CURALIST: For those discovering you for the first time: what is Joshua Roberts Studio ?
JOSH : Joshua Roberts Studio is a sculptural studio producing cast unique Bronze and/or Chalk Composite works ranging from candle holders, lamps to purist abstract sculpture. It’s a proudly British brand, with in-house design and a foundry based in the South West of England.
THE CURALIST: Can you share the story behind Joshua Roberts Studio, how it began ?
JOSH : It began from simply discovering a bag of clay in my Mum’s studio about 2 and a half years ago. I’ve also had an affinity towards fine art and have been practising painting since being a teenager, I even exhibited in a show or two in London in my early twenty’s but since discovering clay and now plaster I’ve never looked back. I find I have so much more control over what I’m trying to make with clay. I studied Art History and worked in the design world for a number of years in various pockets, from bespoke joinery to interior design houses but I always had a strong desire to go on my own with something but I never really had a strong enough idea and product until I discovered clay. Suddenly I could craft and sculpt a work or product from scratch in a matter of hours sometimes. So after a number of months of simply experimenting with forms, it was actually my Brother who suggested to get some of my works cast with a Foundry he worked with, and the rest developed from there.
THE CURALIST: Do you have any references that shapes your work ?
JOSH : I’m very much attracted to the linear, elegant forms of Alberto Giacometti, not so much in subject but in form and texture. Other than artist’s – I get inspiration from other forms of less correlating types of design, whether its a sculptural pull handle on a door or a neo-classical street lamp or even a wine glass stem. It very much depends on the day, quite often though, in the early stages of design when sketching out ideas, I’ll simply start with a blank piece of paper and go from there. Allowing my mind to wonder, iterating on ideas and forms until something I like comes out.
THE CURALIST: You’re working with cold-cast bronze and a chalk composite. What draws you to these materials?
JOSH : I’d say the flexibility within the casting process, because they’re formed through the Bronze cold-casting method, it doesn’t take a huge amount of time to cast a finished work, meaning I can prototype and experiment with flexibility. Additionally, the range of finishes and metal composites you can create is vast too, from aluminium composites to brass and bronze, meaning one design can have a number of diverse final outcomes. The Bronze powder the foundry uses too is sourced from recycled off cuts used in industrial and metalworking processes meaning we have a more environmental conscious approach.
THE CURALIST: In many ways, your products transcend traditional sculpture by embracing imperfection, making them uniquely beautiful. How do you hope your designs challenge or expand the boundaries of sculpture?
JOSH : I really like the idea of an object possessing both artistic and sculptural qualities while still holding functional uses. To double up as an abstract work on a mantle piece while also being used around a dining table as a functional candle holder. This is where I hope the studio sits. Balancing itself between fine art and functional design.
THE CURALIST: There’s a sense of timelessness in your pieces: how do you approach the idea of durability or sustainability in your work?
JOSH : A good question, the works, if looked after should last a lifetime, so there’s definitely durability and longevity in that. I think I try and design in a timeless way as you say, touching on both traditional and contemporary aesthetics, creating a feeling rather than simply a look.
THE CURALIST: What does it mean to create something timeless in a world obsessed with speed and novelty?
JOSH : I think creating a timeless design is something to always strive for as a craftsmen or designer. So in a world where high production, fast designing and churning out the new instead of focusing on classical proportions, core design principles and stylish aesthetics is something which should be held in a higher regard. To be able to see the craft, time and skill that went into making something is where true appreciation comes from, and to appreciate something is often to admire it.
THE CURALIST: If your studio were reduced to just a few words into a list, what would they be on that list?
JOSH : Elegance, Rustic and Soulful
BY
Alice Corolleur
BRAND
Joshua Roberts Studio
https://www.joshuarobertsstudio.com/
PHOTOGRAPHY
Joshua Roberts Studio