Hylton Nel: Things Made Over Time

Things Made Over Time surveys Hylton Nel’s ceramics—whimsical plates and insightful sculptures blending history, humor, and critique—with a foreword by Dior’s Kim Jones. Essential for lovers of ceramic art.

Things Made Over Time is a comprehensive survey of South African artist-potter Hylton Nel’s work, spanning his career from the 1960s to 2024. From his early days in Antwerp to his studio in Calitzdorp, Nel’s ceramics—plates, bowls, vases, and sculptures—embody a unique voice in contemporary ceramics. Featuring a foreword by Dior Men’s creative director Kim Jones and a photographic series by Pieter Hugo, this book explores Nel’s vast inspirations, from Staffordshire pottery to Tang Dynasty China, as well as his home filled with objects and books. With insights from Nel’s own words and an essay by art historian Tamar Garb, who highlights his whimsical cats as symbolic witnesses, Things Made Over Time captures Nel’s blend of humor, critique, and timeless tradition. A must-have for collectors and lovers of contemporary ceramics.

Hylton Nel was born in 1941 in N’kana, Zambia, and lives and works in Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo, South Africa. He describes himself as an 'artist-potter', which aptly refers to his interest in painted imagery as well as form and function. His work is rich in references to the decorative arts and literary and art historical sources. His plates, bowls, vases, plaques and figurative pieces are idiosyncratically decorated with witty - and sometimes poignant - line drawings and script. His imagery ranges from penises to Madonnas, cats to angels, and his quotes are drawn from poetry and the daily press as well as his observations of the world around him. His work has been the subject of various survey exhibitions, including Things Made Over Time at Stevenson, Cape Town (2024); This plate is what I have to say at Charleston, East Sussex, UK (2023); Hylton Nel at 80, The Fine Art Society, London, UK (2021). Previous books on his work include Hylton Nel at 80 (The Fine Art Society, London, 2021); Hylton Nel: For Use and Display (The Fine Art Society, London, 2021); Hylton Nel: A Curious World, edited by Michael Stevenson (Jacana, Johannesburg, 2010). Tamar Garb is Durning Professor in the History of Art at University College London. She has published widely on questions of gender and sexuality in modern and contemporary art as well as on photography from Africa, the work of women artists and feminist aesthetics. Her curatorial practice includes Portia Zvavahera: Zvakazarurwa, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge (2024); Beyond the Binary: Santu Mofokeng and David Goldblatt, The Walther Collection, Neu-Ulm (2023); Conversations in Letters & Lines: William Kentridge and Vivienne Koorland, Fruitmarket, Edinburgh (2016). Kim Jones OBE is a visionary British fashion designer whose work seamlessly blends high fashion with streetwear sensibilities. Renowned for his tenure as creative director of Dior Men, Jones has redefined menswear by incorporating diverse cultural influences and artistic collaborations. His innovative designs, often characterized by bold silhouettes and intricate detailing, challenge traditional notions of masculinity in fashion. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, he has garnered acclaim for his ability to merge art, music, and fashion. Recognized with an OBE for his contributions to the industry, Jones continues to influence contemporary style with his audacious vision.