Cleo Mussi: Botanicals
A solo exhibition of mosaics by maverick ceramic artist Cleo Mussi, opens on Saturday 7th October at Compass Gallery!
About Cleo Mussi: Botanicals
Cleo Mussi is a maverick ceramic artist creating unique mosaics, marshalling historical shards of china into contemporary stories that reflect the World around us. Cleo’s work takes you on a journey of discovery from her life size gestural figures to small intimate works, all drawn from historical repurposed ceramic tableware. She explores narratives mapped from her personal journeys through history, science, art and nature, exploring the surface and the underbelly of key themes in anthropology and humanity. The work holds cross cultural references in fashionable design , travel and commerce and represents the story of industrial ceramic history. Chinese ceramic meets Wedgewood, Poole sits next to Japanese porcelain and Staffordshire unites with Homebase to form a unique and motley collection of work.
Cleo has created as a key work for this exhibition, a life size mosaic figure using the repurposed ceramic tableware, inspired by a legendary figure called The Burry Man, a central figure in an annual ceremony or ritual, the Burryman's Parade. Tradition holds that The Burry Man who parades in the annual pagan procession at South Queensferry will bring good luck to the town if they give him whisky on his procession. The figure is covered from head to toe in burdock heads (Arctium Lappa) with a flower crown, and flower staffs to aid movement, and he is accompanied by two attendants, walking for 9 hours covering about 7 miles.
The exhibition of charming, colourful mosaics, titled ‘Botanicals’ also explores how plants were introduced for culinary, medicinal and therapeutic purposes as weeds along migratory paths and are established as part of our diverse culture. They are linked with folklore, superstition and agricultural toil. The British landscape has evolved since pre-history with migration and the conscious and unconscious sharing of knowledge and plants from Europe and further afield.
We exhibited Cleo Mussi’s work in Compass Gallery many years ago and this will be her first solo exhibition with us. Cleo trained at Goldsmiths College though is self taught in mosaic. Her works are held in private collections worldwide and in many public spaces throughout the UK and include commissions for John Lewis in Solihull and The BBC Asian network in Leicester. Cleo was a selected AWARD artist represented at The British Ceramics Biennial in 2021 and her recently published book ‘Mussi Mosaic Manufactory’, a 200 page retrospective with over 500 images represents the last thirty-four years of her career.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Glasgow? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Compass Gallery
The Winter Show
Compass Gallery invite you to enjoy their annual Winter Exhibition featuring a wide selection of original paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Retro Reels
Step back in time at Riverside Museum and immerse yourself in the unforgettable world of 1980s cinema, on a nostalgic journey through the props, stories, and creativity that shaped a generation.
READ MORE
Wintering Well: Living With SAD Exhibition
This free mini-exhibition at The Mitchell Library showcases a creative collaboration between the Universities of Glasgow & Edinburgh and local residents living with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
READ MORE
Thompson150: Exhibition
This January Glasgow Life and The Mitchell Library are delighted to be hosting an exhibition by The Alexander Thomson Society marking the 150th anniversary of the death of Alexander 'Greek' Thomson.
READ MORE
The Scottish Motorhome, Caravan & Holiday Home Show
The Scottish Motorhome, Caravan & Holiday Home Show returns to the Scottish Event Campus for 2026 between the 5th and 8th of February!
READ MORE
Surreal: International Photography Exhibition
In February, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition with the theme Surreal running throughout the month.
READ MORE
Diptych/Triptych: International Photography Exhibition
In February, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition with the theme Diptych/Triptych running throughout the month.
READ MORE
The Creative Craft Show and The Scottish Quilting Show
The Scottish Quilting Show and The Creative Craft Show return to Glasgow in March, celebrating the skills and talents of artists and crafters; inspiring visitors to take up a hobby of their own!
READ MORE
Women in Photography: International Photography Exhibition
In March, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition showing the work of Women in Photography running throughout the month.
READ MORE
Environment: International Photography Exhibition
In March, The Glasgow Gallery of Photography will be displaying a month-long international photography exhibition with the theme Environment running throughout the month.
READ MOREFind other events in Glasgow
Sponsored Links