DELICATE FORMS

Celebrating the pottery of Robert (Bob) Hislop b.1930 d.1998

18 October 2008 - 25 January 2009

Emphasis on quiet but powerful form and delicious experimental glazes are the trademarks of Bob Hislop’s pottery.

His quiet, no-nonsense modesty meant he was not one to promote himself and therefore his work was never quite given the exposure it so deserved.

Bob was very influenced by the clean, simple lines of Lucy Rie’s and Hans Coper’s pottery.

He fired in an ancient, small, electric kiln for most of his pottery career, frequently firing and re-firing, one piece at a time, to get the result he wanted.

Bob Hislop has exhibited nationally and is represented in the Waikato Museum Collection.

About the artist

Robert (Bob) Hislop was born in 1930 in, Scotland. He served out an apprenticeship as a plasterer but wanted to work with animals and in 1955 migrated to New Zealand as a “ten pound Pom” to work as a herd tester. He eventually moved to Cambridge and met his life-long companion, Joey Marshall who introduced him to pottery.

Our own friendship began through pottery also. We swapped glaze ingredients, exhibited together, visited exhibitions and “chewed the fat”.
When his health was failing, he derived much satisfaction from helping me glaze large pots and returning for the kiln openings.

Bob died of cancer in September 1998, so it is a fitting tribute to showcase his work on the 10th anniversary of his passing.

Sandra Webb
Heritage Gallery
Cambridge
New Zealand