Roger Kerslake
“Timing and circumstance guided by early ventures in clay. Bernard Leach had been asked to build a small pottery [at Dartington Hall the famous art colony in South Devon] literally 150 yards from my home. The seed was cast…My fascination with the clay medium became enriched that summer of 1952 when I stumbled upon a potter’s convention at Dartington Hall. There were was a Leach potter’s wheel set-up in the courtyard. The treadle was unreachable by one potter’s legs, so, by invitation I willingly pushed the treadle for him by hand at a constant pace. Unknown by me at the time, but learned a few years later, the diminutive potter was Shoji Hamada! Karma perhaps?”
— Roger Kerslake, 2012
Roger Kerslake
Roger Kerslake completed his studies in Fine Art and Pottery in England, where he taught for nine years before emigrating to Canada. British studio potters immigrated to Canada with their glaze recipes and potters’ wheels. They became important teachers and the country’s leading ceramicists. Robin Hopper arrived in 1968 at age twenty-eight making his mark in Ontario and eventually residing in British Columbia. John Chalke, also at age twenty-eight, came over in 1967 and chose to settle in Alberta. Roger Kerslake, at age thirty-two, immigrated in 1970 and settled in Ontario. Roger resumed his role as potter/teacher and is known for creating finely crafted functional ware, unique hand-built organic vessels and textural murals in both stoneware and porcelain.
Roger's work has been shown in many group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, resulting in a number of awards for excellence in the craft. He now spends his time doing what he likes to do: potting, painting and playing.