Artist David Pinto's Studio in Jamaica

Check Out This Artist’s Studio in Jamaica

Posted: September 9, 2016/Under: Art, Jamaica/By: outpostings

For many people, leaving home and venturing off to new lands is the impetus for living a life of passion. For David Pinto, a Jamaican ceramic artist, it was the other way around.

Pinto, who was born in Jamaica, left home for his studies both in England and the U.S. at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). After completing his training and working with ceramic artists in New York City, Pinto decided it was time to bring his talents home. He left NYC and spent several months in Japan honing in on his style as a ceramacist before settling back into life in Jamaica.

With the encouragement of what he calls his “clay family,” (a community of ceramicists), Pinto opened a studio in 1992 in Trelawny—after a long process of trial and error, with “an emphasis on the error.” Nearly 25 year later, Pinto’s Cockpit County studio, Jamaica Clay, is still open for business.

Over the years, he has solidified his reputation as a one-of-a-kind artist with unique work. Pinto creates incredibly intricate, large-scale sculptures and functional pottery (plates, pots, drink vessels, light fixtures). He also offers classes and intensive workshops for those who have an interest in the art form or simply looking for something different while on vacation.

Pinto recently opened his studio to Outpostings for a tour. Join us as we take a look around.

Pinto on opening his studio in Jamaica: “I had no idea what I was doing. I asked my friends in the industry a lot of questions, ordered piles of supplies and brought them down to Jamaica. It was a lot of trial and error, emphasis on the error. We made lots of mistakes, but it was great journey.”

Inside Jamaica Clay studio, where Pinto does most of his creating. Pinto has pieces that are a part of the permanent collection of The National Gallery of Jamaica.