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Expressions in Blue Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff P E T W O R T H

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Expressions in Blue Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff Pe t wo r t h H o u s e a n d Pa r k Pe t wo r t h , We s t S u s s e x G U 2 8 9 L R 2 3 M ay 2 0 2 6 – 2 7 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 6

This summer marks the third iteration of Felicity Aylieff’s acclaimed Expressions in Blue exhibition, and sees the artist present a new selection of Petworth-inspired works of art, alongside her ‘forest’ of porcelain monoliths within this exceptional historic setting. “Seeing my sculptures within Petworth’s grand Baroque setting is both exhilarating and humbling”, says Aylieff. The landscape designed by Capability Brown, carvings by Grinling Gibbons and an array of antique Chinese export porcelain, add a distinct new context and energy to the exhibition. “Petworth House has been a profound source of inspiration for me, for its extraordinary architectural presence and its deep connection to history and landscape. The light, space and sense of permanence within the house allow the work to resonate differently, echoing both the heritage of porcelain and the timeless atmosphere of Petworth’s collection. I hope the setting encourages people to look more closely, experiencing the works as objects that hold memory, ornament and a contemporary energy.” Dr. Emily Knight, Property Curator of Petworth House says, “The dramatic grandeur of Aylieff’s work conjures the same sense of spectacle and awe as Petworth’s baroque interiors. This exhibition is a conversation between the past and present and we are thrilled to be showing new work by Aylieff in the place that inspired it.” All works of art are for sale through Adrian Sassoon, London Contact the gallery for further information email@adriansassoon.com

Continuing Petworth’s rich history of artistic collaboration and collecting, Aylieff has created several new works of art, revealed here for the first time. Highly decorative floral Fencai enamelled vessels take their inspiration from intricate wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons, while other sculptures draw on Petworth’s magnificent collection of 17th century Chinese porcelain.

Fencai Fencai (referred to as famille rose) is a traditional Chinese decorative technique dating back to the 18th century. This involved painting dark outlines in an oilbased solution, before filling the spaces created with jewel-like enamel colours. The wide range of hues, created by combining crushed, pigmented frit and iron powder, are painted over a white glaze surface as a secondary layer of colour.

Mei Ping Vase; Lilium et Chrysanthemum, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 58.5cm (23”) Diameter 30.5cm (12”) SOLD 8

Left: Hibiscus, Rosa-Sinensis: Hibiscus, Chinese Rose II, 2025 Full details on page 12 Right: Hortus Floralis: Garden of Flowers, 2026 Full details on page 14 10

Hibiscus, Rosa-Sinensis: Hibiscus, Chinese Rose II, 2025 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 198cm (78”) Diameter 75cm (29 1/2”) £ 70,000 12

Hortus Floralis: Garden of Flowers, 2026 (alternative view) Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 138.5cm (54 1/2”) Diameter 90.5cm (35 5/8”) SOLD 14

Tapestry Gourd; Floral Weave, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 45.5cm (17 7/8”) Diameter 27.5cm (10 7/8”) SOLD

Left: Tapestry Gourd; Floral Weave, 2026 Full details on page 16 Middle: Tulipae Mediae Noctis: Midnight Tulips II, 2025 Full details on page 20 Right: Mei Ping Vase; Lilium et Chrysanthemum, 2026 Full details on page 8 19

Left: Tulipae Mediae Noctis: Midnight Tulips II, 2025 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai overglaze enamel Height 39.5cm (15 1/2”) Diameter 53cm (20 7/8”) SOLD

Right: Tulipae Mediae Noctis: Midnight Tulips III, 2025 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai overglaze enamel Height 39cm (15 3/8”) Diameter 53cm (20 7/8”) £ 20,000 20

Pair of Sweet Pea Vases, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 48cm (18 7/8”) Diameter 24.5cm (9 5/8”) £ 32,000 22

Garden Splendour: A Pair of Monumental Vases with Botanical Illustrations, 2024 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 154.5cm (60 7/8”) Diameter 61cm (24”) SOLD 25

Lilia Aurea: Golden Lilies, 2022 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel and colloidal gold Height 200cm (78 3/4”) Diameter 73cm (28 3/4”) £ 55,000 26

Blue and White Aylieff likens the surface of her vessels to expansive canvases for her artistic expression. The large blue and white vessels are painted in a single spontaneous, almost performative event. The finished work is an innate response to the form in front of her and the creative charge she wishes to express. Aylieff works at pace and with purpose. A misstep could derail the whole artistic outcome. Whilst in China, Aylieff has made, collected and acquired an expansive range of brushes, which she uses to create her repertoire of marks, as unique to her as handwriting. She uses giant brushes with lengths of horsehair over 30cm long, to whip around the vessel, creating energetic flicks and splashes. Broad brushes, with short bristles leave graceful, wide, arched markings, while her selfmade bundles of twine create fine, corkscrew lines, which lend a shimmering, frenetic energy to the vase when applied densely across its surface.

Chinese Ladders, 2012 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 467cm (183 7/8”) Diameter 87cm (34 1/4”) £ 100,000 29

Left: Blue: Triple Form, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 252cm (99 1/4”) Diameter 101cm (39 3/4”) £ 80,000

Right: Blue: Continuum, Undulating Form, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 292cm (115”) Diameter 112cm (44 1/8”) £ 80,000 32

Left: Blue: Lantern II, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 198cm (78”) Diameter 96cm (37 3/4”) £ 50,000

Middle: Blue: Earth, Fire, Water, Undulating Form I, 2024 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 308.5cm (121 1/2”) Diameter 112cm (44 1/8”) £ 90,000

Right: Blue: Sentinel, Obelisk, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 364cm (143 1/4”) Diameter 109cm (42 7/8”) £ 90,000 34

“National Trust houses are repositories of centuries of human creativity and ingenuity, and their collections inspire artists, craftspeople, writers, and all of us who visit. Every object now carefully displayed was once contemporary and it is wonderful to see these bold and beautiful works of contemporary art ‘in conversation’ with the outstanding historic collections at Petworth.” Tarnya Cooper, National Trust Cultural Heritage Director

Pair of Blue & White Mei Ping Vases, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 60cm (23 5/8”) Diameter 31.5cm (12 3/8”) £ 22,000 39

Blue: Earth, Fire, Water, Obelisk, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 374cm (147 1/4”) Diameter 109cm (42 7/8”) £ 90,000 40

Petworth Garniture of Six Vases, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 58.5cm (23”) £ 42,000 the set 42

Pair of Blue & White Gourd Vases, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 44.5cm (17 1/2”) Diameter 27.5cm (10 7/8”) £ 18,000 44

Left: Blue & White Vase, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 45cm (17 3/4”) Diameter 45cm (17 3/4”) £ 10,000

Right: Blue & White Polyphony Vase, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 45cm (17 3/4”) Diameter 45cm (17 3/4”) SOLD 46

Pair of Petworth Soldier Vases, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 106cm (41 3/4”) Diameter 62.5cm (24 5/8”) £ 54,000 48

Pair of Petworth Soldier Vases, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 100cm (39 3/8”) £ 54,000 51

“Petworth, almost uniquely, houses massive historic Chinese porcelain vases which stand as dramatic companions to Felicity Ayleiff ’s contemporary work.” Adrian Sassoon

Right: Petworth Soldier Vase; Pouring Blue, 2026 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 108cm (42 1/2”) Diameter 61cm (24”) SOLD 52

A Monumental Blue and White Vase, 2022 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide Height 190cm (74 3/4”) Diameter 56cm (22”) £ 40,000 54

Left: Paeonia Lactiflora: Chinese Peony, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 180cm (70 7/8”) Diameter 74cm (29 1/8”) £ 55,000

Right: Paeoniae Rosaceae et Flavae: Pink and Yellow Peonies I, 2024 Thrown and glazed porcelain with painted Fencai over-glaze enamel Height 136cm (53 1/2”) Diameter 52cm (20 1/2”) £ 36,000 56

Blue: Sentinel Obelisk II, 2023 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide

Blue: Sentinel Obelisk I, 2024 Thrown and glazed porcelain, painted with cobalt blue oxide

Height 549.5cm (216 3/8”) Diameter 137.5cm (54 1/8”)

Height 538.5cm (212”) Diameter 139cm (54 3/4”)

NOT FOR SALE

£ 120,000

Aylieff Working in China Aylieff is one of very few contemporary artists making porcelain vessels on a monumental scale. It is the use and development of traditional techniques, both the physical production and decorative aspect, which distinguishes her work. Such innovation has led Jingdezhen Municipal Government to recognise and thank Aylieff’s studio for its strong support and contribution to Chinese heritage. Aylieff’s studio space, RedHouse, was asked to host an International Seminar on Archaeological Protection and the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage application for Jingdezhen City. China has not only exposed Aylieff to the wonders of porcelain making; the fine clay, gigantic kilns, bespoke machinery, tools and luminous cobalt glazes, but has also triggered a shift in her thinking as an artist. Witnessing the collaborative efforts of a highly skilled workforce (all specialists in different aspects of producing a work of art), encouraged Aylieff to question notions of ownership and broaden her approach to making. The works of art in this exhibition are the result of centuries of porcelain production, in a city built on specialist skills, as well as the tenacity and creative vision of a British artist, innovating across cultures. Felicity Aylieff acknowledges the essential skills and expertise of the talented range of Chinese artisans she has worked with, without whom this exhibition would not be possible. The artist would like to thank the following: RedHouse Ceramics Design Studio: XIONG Baixu, Takeshi Yasuda, Ms JIANG Haijiao, Ms DAI Lingling, Ms TANG Yu, Mr CHEN Hao Xin Liang Big Pot Factory team: YU Liang and YU Xu Zhen Shang Ceramics Company: Mr WU Jiang Zhong Duan Long Ceramic Corporation Ltd: Mr FENG Qi Ming UCN Film and Documentary studio: Mr GAO Yan, Mr YAO Fei, Mr ZHU Jinsong

Expressions in Blue Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff Pe t wo r t h H o u s e a n d Pa r k Pe t wo r t h , We s t S u s s e x G U 2 8 9 L R 2 3 M ay – 2 7 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 6

8 HEADFORT PLACE LONDON SW1X 7DH (by appointment) +44 (0)20 7581 9888 email@adriansassoon.com www.adriansassoon.com 64

Image Credits Petworth House and Park. Photography by Megan Taylor: pp. cover, 2, 3, 4, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 58, 59, 64, 65 Petworth House and Park. Photography by Michael Cole: pp. 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48,49, 50, 51, 53, 66 Sylvain Deleu: pp. 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21, 42, 43, 57, 62, 63 RedHouse Ceramics Design Studio: pp. 60 Takeshi Yasuda: pp. 41 UCN Documentary Studio: pp. 29, 29, 60