Patrick Loughran

USA
B. 1948

‘Parallel to my practice of drawing, my sculptures represent a search for forms and images that I have never seen, which are the result of gestures, erasures, repetitions, superpositions and observations of unforeseen effects. All traces of this quest interest me. I try to leave them apparent once the work is finished.’

‘Parallel to my practice of drawing, my sculptures represent a search for forms and images that I have never seen, which are the result of gestures, erasures, repetitions, superpositions and observations of unforeseen effects. All traces of this quest interest me. I try to leave them apparent once the work is finished.’

Artistic Approach

Loughran sculpts clay through mechanical improvisation, drawing inspiration from biological and geological forces that shape growth and development. His work explores unseen forms and images, pushing the boundaries of ceramic expression.

He sees ceramics as a fusion of artistic disciplines, blending painting and sculpture, with color playing a crucial role. In his most recent works, he contrasts rigid and soft structures, creating what he describes as “erotic architecture.”

Background and Education

Patrick Loughran is an American ceramic artist known for his innovative, sculptural approach to the medium. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University in 1970, followed by a Master of Arts in Sculpture and Crafts from Teachers College in 1975.

Exhibitions and Collections

Loughran taught ceramics at institutions across the United States, including in New York, Chicago, and New Mexico, before moving to Paris in 1991. Since then, he has become a leading figure in the French ceramics community. His work is featured in several prestigious museum collections, including:

  • Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, Paris

  • Le Musée Magnelli, Musée de la Céramique, Vallauris

  • Le Musée de la Céramique Française

  • Fule International Ceramic Museums, China

Patrick Loughran lives and works in Paris, France.

WORK AVAILABLE