Claire Partington’s version of the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility, Venus, is also an amalgamation of Hindu mythology, Renaissance Madonna and a modern everyday woman. We take a deep dive into the different references that can be seen in this fantastic ceramic figure.
Pregnant and casually dressed in leggings and vest, this ceramic figure stands confidently, a cigarette in one hand and a dog leash in another. She is Claire Partington’s version of Venus, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility.
Partington is inspired by the lives and style of London’s women, creating modern mythical figures that reference older and more traditional types of fine and decorative arts: porcelain figurines, Renaissance paintings and religious icons. Her complex and witty ceramics combine contemporary and historic visual clues to create new imaginary characters, which offer a sharp take on questions of feminism, colonialism and bodily autonomy.
This video does a deep dive into the different references that can be seen in this fantastic ceramic figure.
Claire Partington’s Venus was displayed at the Museum of London’s exhibition, London Making Now, which closed in April 2022.
Explore more of the museum’s online ceramics collections here.