about me
Yael Novak ceramic art

I turned to ceramics after working for several years in special education.

A chance encounter with an exquisite wood fired ewer led to a career change and a lifetime commitment to clay.

Ceramic objects fascinate me. I regard them as containers of ideas and three dimensional bases for the exploration of personal and philosophical issues concerning the creative process.

As a production potter, ideas of containment and multiplicity are at the root of my artistic expression.

These ideas are manifested in my sculptural and utilitarian work. I produce a wide range of thrown and altered tableware and one-off pieces incorporating elements of function and utility with humor and whimsy.

I am mainly concerned with simplicity of form and decoration. Repeated minimal decorative designs enhance a simple yet elegant repertoire of forms. My pots are for domestic use and enjoyment in the rituals of everyday life.

Being able to give someone the pleasure of interacting with an object of warmth and comfort at the start and end of day is my reason for doing what I do.

Work found in international - private and corporate collections.

Studio potter since 1990

Selected exhibitions and awards:

2011The Sixth Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv - "Filtering"

2010Belger Arts, Kansas City, US - "From the Melting Pot into the Fire, Contemporary Ceramics in Israel" "In Between the Pots"

2010The Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada - "From the Melting Pot into the Fire, Contemporary Ceramics in Israel" "In Between the Pots" - "Sleepless"

2010Artist's House Gallery, Tel Aviv - Vases Now

2009Solo exhibition, Beit Kahane Museum, Ramat Gan - "Recline"

2009 The Mint Museum of Art + Design, Charlotte, North Carolina -
"From the Melting Pot into the Fire, Contemporary Ceramics in Israel"
"In Between the Pots"

2008The Fifth Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv - "Clay, Sensation"

2008Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

2008Faculty Show, Rail’s End Gallery, Haliburton, Ont. Canada

2008Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv - "Rhythms"

2008Design Gallery, Hankin College, Holon -"Shelf Life"

2007"inbox" , Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv

2006The Fourth Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv - "Territory and Identity, Between Ceramics and Architecture"

2006"ReOriented Design", Design Biennale, St. Etienne, France

2006Recent Work, Haliburton School of the Arts, Haliburton, Ont. Canada

2006"Israeli Contemporary Applied Arts", Ben Uri Gallery, The London Jewish Museum of Art, London, U.K.

2006"Goblets" , The Gallery, Shoeva, Jerusalem

2006"The Vessel and Stand" , Hagvulot Museum, Metula - "Sleepless", First Prize

2005 Residency scholarship at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Art, Maine, U.S.A - granted by AIDA - the Association of Israel's Decorative Arts

2005"Patchwork", "PromiseDesign", the Triennale, Milan

2005"Patchwork", "PromiseDesign", "designmai", Berlin, Copenhagen

2004The Third Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv - "Design - Art - Design"

2004"Tea Time" , Gallerina, Bat Shlomo

2004"Tea Pots" , Art Gallery, Tel Hai

2003Clayart, Wales, U.K

2003"Toys", Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv

2002The Second Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv - "Collaborations"

2001"The Art of the Vessel", Beit Kahane Museum, Ramat Gan

2000"The Art of the Vessel", Art Gallery, Tel Hai

2000The Alix De Rothschild Award Scheme - "The Art of the Vessel", Third Prize

2000The First Biennale for Israeli Ceramics, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv - "Clay 2000"

2000"Vase Movement", Hankin College, Design Gallery, Holon

1999"Lipton’s Five O’clock Art", Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv

1999"Potters Set a Table", Beit Kahane Museum, Ramat Gan

1999"Plates and Platters", Hankin College, Design Gallery, Holon

1999"Designer Crafts of Israel", Sternberg Centre, London, U.K

1999"Bowls", Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv

1998"Potters Set a Table", Art Gallery, Tel Hai

1998"cups", Hankin College, Design Gallery, Holon

1997"16 Ceramic Artists", Performing Art Centre, Rishon L’Zion

1994"Table Settings", Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv

1995"Ceramics and Painting, Painting Ceramics", Shlush 30 Gallery Tel Aviv

1993"Containers", Shlush Shloshim Gallery, Tel Aviv

All of my work is wheel thrown, altered and assembled stoneware or porcelain; decorated with slips and underglazes, glazed and fired to cone 7 in an electric kiln; all of my functional pots are dishwasher, oven and microwave safe.

I have taught, curated and exhibited throughout the world and participated in several workshops, professional conferences and symposia.