Opening Reception: Friday, August 1, 6–8 p.m.
Artist Talk with Peter Kiss: Sunday, August 3, 12–1 p.m. in the ArtSpeaks Tent.
Evolving display: discover new works starting Wednesday, August 13.

The Ferry Building Gallery is proud to present Walking in the Footsteps, an exhibition celebrating the legacy of renowned ceramic artist Zoltan Kiss and the work of his son, Peter Kiss and Tania Gleave. This exhibition marks Zoltan’s fourth show at the Ferry Building Gallery, his first shown in memory, Peter’s third, and Tania’s debut.

For over 50 years, Zoltan Kiss pursued a deep mastery of his craft. He built his own kilns, mixed his own glazes, and even imported clay from Wales to achieve specific effects. This intense technical control allowed space for joy and experimentation—qualities reflected not only in his ceramics but in his architectural paintings, where precision met spontaneity.

Peter Kiss continues his father’s joyful spirit in his own work, aiming to uplift viewers and spark a sense of positivity. While Tania Gleave, working at the intersection of material, form, and scale, brings a fresh perspective through her new explorations in clay.

Peter and Tania live surrounded by Zoltan’s work, spanning nearly eight decades. Rarely does a day pass without referencing, questioning, or being inspired by his legacy. Walking in the Footsteps is both a tribute to Zoltan Kiss and a reflection on how his influence lives on in the hands of those closest to him.

As Zoltan once said, “Pottery is a mixture of science, technology, craft, art—and luck.”

Peter is the featured artist for the 2025 Harmony Arts Festival.
 

About the artists

Tania Gleave is a multidisciplinary artist based in West Vancouver, working in jewellery design, mixed media painting, printmaking, and ceramic sculpture. Her bold, tactile work reflects a deep engagement with materials and storytelling. After earning a degree in Asian Studies and Japanese from the University of Victoria, she trained in textiles at Capilano College and metal sculpture at Emily Carr University. Her creative journey has been shaped by global travels and experiences cooking in remote locations, from UN camps in Angola to the Antarctic interior. Gleave sees no divide between cooking and art—both are about materials and transformation.

Her jewellery is noted for its confident scale, craftsmanship, and use of natural materials like leather, bone, horn, and gemstones sourced from her travels. She’s built connections with gem miners in Sri Lanka and carvers in Bali. Her work has been exhibited internationally and was recently featured in The Mahogany Project at the Museum of Vancouver.

Peter Kiss’s career path has not always been obvious—though after a nice gin and tonic, he might offer a semi-rational explanation! He was always making art while growing up, which isn’t surprising with two very creative parents. In 1990, he decided to become a full-time artist, leaving behind earlier pursuits in Marine Biology and Architecture. (He jokes that his degrees allow him to design fish).

Over the next decade, Peter exhibited in galleries across Canada and the U.S. While the career shift was rewarding and well received, he found the lack of direct connection with clients unsatisfying.

In 2001, Peter and his wife Tania opened their own gallery to showcase their work and interact with collectors. The Granville Island Gallery was a great success, offering both a creative workspace and meaningful client relationships. After 22 wonderful years, they felt it was time for a change. In 2023, they closed the gallery and transitioned into newly built home studios to begin a new chapter.

This next adventure comes with fresh directions, new energy, and the continued passion for creating art.

Zoltan Kiss was born in Hungary in 1924 he was studying Architecture when the war caused a change of plans. The new plans involve a trek to Denmark with his fellow architecture students. It is the winter of 1944, so converting their drafting tables into sleds, they pile their baggage and some of the school library on board and start walking. This adventure is recorded in his book, ‘Without a Blueprint’.

It is in Denmark in a village named Knabstrup, whose main industry is ceramics, where he spent the next five years. Here he learned his pottery skills and met his future wife before immigrating to Canada in 1949. Besides ceramics, he sketched, painted, made beautiful furniture, and ran a successful architecture practice, but it is in his ceramics that his creativity and sense of humour really shone.

Thank you to the exhibition sponsor: