The work from these two internationally acclaimed artists will be on view at the gallery’s 243 N. 5th Street, Columbus, OH, location from March 5 through April 30, 2026, with an opening reception on Thursday, March 5, from 5–7 PM.

Contemporary Art Matters is thrilled to present a selection of ceramic works from the world-renowned South African artist community, Ardmore. These exquisite sculptures and functional artworks celebrate the region’s craftsmanship and culture. Hand-sculpted and hand-painted, each piece tells a story that honors the continent’s majestic wildlife and its rich creative traditions. 

We will be presenting the exhibition in our Viewing Room January 22 through March 27, 2026 at the gallery’s 243 N. 5th Street, Columbus, OH location.

Inspired by Zulu heritage, African folklore, the natural world, and the artists’ own lives, Ardmore’s ceramic creations are visually sumptuous. Each work blooms with elaborately detailed sculptural figures, transforming functional objects into animated, storytelling forms. Vases, urns, and tureens come alive with intricately defined flora and fauna, their surfaces painted in a vivid, bold palette. In Ardmore’s imaginative works, humans are also depicted, enacting their dramas intertwined with nature in fantastical and whimsical ways, such as a figure riding a spider-giraffe hybrid, or a man with wings holding a bird as he sits atop a jar.

Every ceramic piece is a unique work of art, designed and sculpted by gifted local artists from the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. Under the guidance of founder Fée Halsted, these artists receive training, materials, studio space, and a guaranteed market for their work. Collaboration lies at the heart of Ardmore’s practice: artists share ideas, skills, and inspiration, with many works created through the combined efforts of multiple hands. While teamwork is foundational, the development of each artist’s individual style is encouraged and fostered, and many works bear the signature of a single creator.

Founded in 1985 on Ardmore Farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, the studio began when Halsted apprenticed Bonnie Ntshalintshali. In partnership they nurtured local artists, giving rise to a distinctive and thriving artist community. Situated in an area profoundly impacted by HIV and AIDS, Halsted witnessed the disease’s devastating effects firsthand—losing her partner, artist Bonnie Ntshalintshali, in 1999. In response, Ardmore established a fund to provide medical care, education, nutrition, and support for AIDS orphans and affected artists. Guided by the African philosophy of ubuntu, the belief that identity is shaped through community, Halsted continues to celebrate each artist’s individuality and life story as vital to the collective spirit of Ardmore and the stunning works they create.

Ardmore Ceramics is regarded as a South African national treasure and its wares have been presented as gifts to international heads of state. Queen Elizabeth II was presented with an Ardmore bowl by the President of South Africa and there is an Ardmore masterpiece in the White House. Their vessels and sculptures were featured at both the Korean and Istanbul Biennales and are included in the Museum of Arts and Design’s permanent collection in New York and in the Museum of Cultures in Basel, Switzerland. The largest American collection can be seen at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts in South Florida. Ardmore ceramics have been featured at sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses. This year Ardmore is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with the Cape Town exhibition, Taking Flight.