DR RALPH JOHNSON
Ralph was born in Johannesburg and matriculated from Athlone Boys High School in 1961. He obtained his B.D.S. : University of the Witwatersrand in 1967. In 1984 he received an honours degree in ceramics from the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg) cum laude. In 1992 he attained his Masters degree in Ceramic Design from the Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
Since 1985 he has taught Ceramics at the Paarl College and from 1988 has been a part-time lecturer in Ceramics at the Stellenbosch University Fine Art Department.
Awards: Corobrik National Ceramics Exhibition, Durban 1984; Ceramics SA Regional Ceramics Exhibition, Cape Town 1987; Bernardaud International Ceramics Competition, Paris 1992.
Ralph has work in the following Collections – Durban Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg Art Gallery, University of Natal Collection, Staffordshire University Collection and the Bernardaud Collection.
Ralph started taking weekly classes with Digby Hoets for therapeutic reasons and in 1979 he made a destiny changing decision and gave up a lucrative profession for life as a ceramist. He commenced a re-education process and did a four year study course at university where art dominated his life. A semester spent with Marikie van der Merwe in his third year convinced him that porcelain was the most wonderful medium with which to work and spent his honours year exploring porcelain.
He was offered a post at Paarl College where he taught studio ceramics and was able to continue his passion for discovery, for experimenting with surface effects and form.