Lawson Oyekan (b.1961) is a British-Nigerian ceramicist whose works explore the themes of ancestry, language and belonging. His striking works merge western materials with Nigerian traditions and heritage, creating vessels that represent both his British and West African roots.

Oyekan was born in London and grew up Ibadan, Nigeria, where his father was a high court Judge. He returned to London to study art at East Ham, where he developed an affinity for working in porcelain-clay. His large, but thin walled vessels appear robust, but also fragile – often covered in scar-like marks that resemble the ancient spiritual vessels of the Benue Valley.

‘Passage pot with Palm Print’ formed part of Oyekan’s Passage Pot Series, a collection of vessels that highlighted the importance of keeping the language and traditions of his native Yoruba culture alive. In-printed with his own hand, the pot represents the passage of these traditions, from one generation to the next.