Grove, Helga
Item
Maker Name
Grove, Helga
Studio name
Grove Studio
Biography
Helga apprenticed with Gerd and Lu Grove in Lubeck, Germany (1946-1949), graduating as a journeyman potter. Between 1950 and 1952, she studied drawing and textile design with former Bauhaus Master Georg Muche at the School for Textile Design in Krefeld, Germany. In 1952, she married Jan Grove and worked for the next four years as a designer of decoration in the same two ceramics studios where Jan was employed as a journeyman (Marschner and Gutenhalde). After Jan's certification as a Master Potter in 1956, the couple operated a pottery for 3 years in northern Germany.
Between 1960 and 1965 she lived in Istanbul where her husband Jan was teaching at an art school where she created pottery for an Istanbul exhibition.
The couple immigrated to Canada in 1965, setting up their first studio in Colwood (1966) and later in Metchosen (1990) near Victoria.
While Jan specialized in throwing and glazes, Helga focused on applying geometric designs and sgraffito markings - including her Fable Animal motif - to plates, lamp bases, and vessels mostly made by Jan.
Both made ceramic sculpture inspired by human and animal forms. Helga's was mostly of slab construction with deep sgraffito markings while Jan's was composed of wheel thrown elements in solid-coloured glazes. In 1981, the Groves became members of the Limners, exhibiting regularly with that Victoria art group in the 1980s and 1990s.
Between 1960 and 1965 she lived in Istanbul where her husband Jan was teaching at an art school where she created pottery for an Istanbul exhibition.
The couple immigrated to Canada in 1965, setting up their first studio in Colwood (1966) and later in Metchosen (1990) near Victoria.
While Jan specialized in throwing and glazes, Helga focused on applying geometric designs and sgraffito markings - including her Fable Animal motif - to plates, lamp bases, and vessels mostly made by Jan.
Both made ceramic sculpture inspired by human and animal forms. Helga's was mostly of slab construction with deep sgraffito markings while Jan's was composed of wheel thrown elements in solid-coloured glazes. In 1981, the Groves became members of the Limners, exhibiting regularly with that Victoria art group in the 1980s and 1990s.
First name
Helga
Last name
Grove
Career dates (start and end)
1957
2009
Date of Birth
1927
Date of Death
2018
Place of Birth
Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin, Poland)
Place of Death
Studio location
Apprenticeships
Lu and Gerd Grove, Lubeck, Germany
Major Exhibitions
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1966
Ceramic and Garden, O'Keefe Centre, Toronto ON, 1968
Canadian Guild of Potters, Toronto, ON 1968
Retrospect Ceramics 80, BC Potters Guild, Vancouver, BC
Back to the Land, Ceramics from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands 1970-1985, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 2012
Life With Clay, Pottery and Sculpture by Jan and Helga Grove, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 2017
Modern in the Making, Post-War Craft and Design in British Columbia, Vancouver Art Gallery, 2020.
Collections
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
University of Victoria
University of Victoria
Affiliated organizations
Links to Further Resources
Back to the Land, Ceramics from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands 1970-1985, catalogue, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 2012
Life With Clay, Pottery and Sculpture by Jan and Helga Grove, catalogue, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 2017
Collier, Allan, et al. Modern in the Making, Post-War Craft and Design in British Columbia. Edited by Daina Augaitis, Vancouver Art Gallery, 2020.
Source
Allan Collier
Partner
Item sets
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
 Grove, Helga Mark |
Maker | Image |
 Grove, Helga mark |
Maker | Image |
 Grove, Jan and Helga mark |
Maker | Image |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Grove, Jan | Person |