{"id":1918775,"date":"2026-05-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1918775"},"modified":"2026-05-05T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T21:00:00","slug":"maxwell-mustardo-sculpts-ancient-ornamentation-in-brilliant-glazed-forms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1918775","title":{"rendered":"Maxwell Mustardo Sculpts Ancient Ornamentation in Brilliant Glazed Forms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1783\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-7.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a group of seemingly glowing or fluorescing vase sculptures in different colors and pudgy shapes\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of Maxwell Mustardo, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Maxwell Mustardo Sculpts Ancient Ornamentation in Brilliant Glazed Forms<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-05T08:12:37-05:00\">May 5, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F05%2Fmaxwell-mustardo-amphorae-ceramic-sculpture%2F&amp;title=Maxwell%20Mustardo%20Sculpts%20Ancient%20Ornamentation%20in%20Brilliant%20Glazed%20Forms\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"473640\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The shapes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mustardom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maxwell Mustardo<\/a>\u2019s ceramic works evoke ancient amphorae, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krater\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">kraters<\/a>, and, most recently, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kylix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">kylix<\/a>\u2014a wide Greek cup with handles\u2014although their surfaces feel distinctly organic. Textured growths cloak the vessels with fungal or lichen-esque forms, albeit in color palettes that are bold and otherworldly. Fluorescent oranges, pinks, and greens appear to glow in even the most mundane settings, firmly planting the pieces at the intersection of historic craft, nature, and the uncanny.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am always tweaking chemistry and application methods to push certain surface effects that I like, that feel organic and grown,\u201d Mustardo tells Colossal. \u201cMore recent series\u00a0of work have tried to blur the boundaries of cultural and natural forms (the amphora becomes anthropomorphic, gadrooning reduced to its fruity lineage, and so forth).\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-8.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1487\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-8.jpeg\" alt=\"a group of vibrant vase sculptures in different colors and pudgy shapes\" class=\"wp-image-473662\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>An ornamental design with curved bands, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gadrooning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gadrooning<\/a> is typically relegated to surface decoration. As the artist mentions, though, he prefers to cast these tapered adornments as the central focus, \u201cpromptly pushing classical ornament back into their origins in the natural world, from the kingdom of fruits and vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mustardo is based in New Jersey, where he\u2019s the studio manager of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.takaezustudio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the former residence<\/a> of artist Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011). Find more of his work on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/maxwellmustardo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-4.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2587\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-4.jpeg\" alt=\"a detail of a textured speckled glaze\" class=\"wp-image-473658\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-9.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1782\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-9.jpeg\" alt=\"a group of seemingly glowing or fluorescing vase sculptures in different colors and pudgy shapes\" class=\"wp-image-473663\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-12.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-12.jpeg\" alt=\"a seemingly glowing or fluorescing vase sculpture that looks like a pumpkin\" class=\"wp-image-473666\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-10.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1205\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-10.jpeg\" alt=\"a group of seemingly glowing or fluorescing vase sculptures in different colors and pudgy shapes\" class=\"wp-image-473664\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-5.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-5.jpeg\" alt=\"a detail of a textured speckled glaze\" class=\"wp-image-473659\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-11.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1766\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-11.jpeg\" alt=\"a group of seemingly glowing or fluorescing vase sculptures in different colors and pudgy shapes\" class=\"wp-image-473665\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-6.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2623\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-6.jpeg\" alt=\"a detail of a textured speckled glaze\" class=\"wp-image-473660\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-3.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2631\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-3.jpeg\" alt=\"a detail of a textured speckled glaze\" class=\"wp-image-473657\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-13.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-473640\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mustardo-13.jpeg\" alt=\"a group of seemingly glowing or fluorescing vase sculptures in different colors and pudgy shapes on a stuio worktop\" class=\"wp-image-473667\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget 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Textured growths cloak [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1918775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1918775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1918775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1918775\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1918775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1918775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1918775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}