"The Allure of Restraint - collector's statement

Jay Louisson

A John Parker pot is an object of desire. Austere in its simplicity, it seduces the eye with an offer of perfection. Each piece is a composition of practised technique, disciplined restraint and the echo of ancient vessels. Parker is an artist who commands his medium. He has the authority to eschew self-conscious cultural references, and concessions to function. Instead, he glorifies pure form. That’s what makes his work so enduring. Parker’s pots withstand constant viewing because they have their own integrity. They are one man’s coherent, elegant attempt to make things of lasting beauty. It is an ambition that delivers, year after year, collections that are a privilege to see. And individual pieces that become personal treasures.