About
Adil Writer
Architecture was Adil Writer's first language, a world of measured lines, balance, and precision. Clay came later, and with it, a different vocabulary: one of touch, transformation, and chance. At Mandala Pottery, his studio set in the forested landscape of Auroville, he works where earth, fire, and form meet in a constant dialogue.
Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Adil studied architecture and earned his Master's degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Houston. After working as an architect in Bombay, he arrived in Pondicherry in 1998 to study ceramics at Golden Bridge Pottery under the guidance of Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith. What began as a two-and-a-half-year immersion in the craft evolved into a complete reimagining of his creative path. By 2000, he had said goodbye to his architectural practice to devote himself entirely to ceramics.
Today, Adil leads Mandala Pottery in Auroville, one of the largest handmade functional tableware studios in India. The studio is known throughout the ceramic field for its "happy glazing" aesthetic: wild, expressive surfaces that celebrate the marks of the hand, firing flaws, and the unpredictable beauty of wood and soda-firing techniques.
Beyond his work at Mandala, Adil's personal artistic practice encompasses large-scale murals, mixed media installations, and sculptural ceramic works. His pieces often emerge from a fascination with contrasts, the blackened metal aesthetic of traditional Bidri inlay work translated into ceramic form, the vast expanse of desert night skies captured on unfired clay canvases, or the celestial patterns he is drawn to as someone born under the sign of Aries.
He works extensively with drawings and has collaborated with artists and designers across disciplines, including renowned Hyderabad artist Lakshma Goud, contemporary artist Sujata Bajaj, designer Kamal Langrana, architect Channa Daswatte, and designer Namita Saraf.
A member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) and Artaxis, Adil has exhibited his work nationally and internationally, including at the 1st Indian Ceramic Triennale in Jaipur. His installations, such as "The Deserted Barcode," which explores urban light pollution and the loss of night skies through a seven-meter-long barcode of acrylic paintings on unfired clay, reflect both personal meditation and broader environmental concerns.
Working from Studio Mandala in Auroville's forested calm, Adil continues to push the boundaries between functional pottery and fine art, creating works that reveal the raw beauty of materials and the transformative power of fire.
CREDENTIALS
Bachelor of Architecture, Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Bombay, India
Master of Architecture, University of Houston, Texas, USA
Architect at Gensler & Associates, San Francisco, California, USA
Associate Architect at Talati & Panthaky Pvt. Ltd., Bombay, India
Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry, India, with Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith
Since 2001, partner at Mandala Pottery, Auroville, India (Production and studio pottery)
Member of the International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, Switzerland
PAST EXHIBITIONS
2026 "Chinese Zodiac", IAC Conference, Taoxichuan Grand Theatre, Jingdezhen, China.
2026 "Postcards from the Monsoon Belt", Jingdezhen Grand Bowl, China
2025 "Fuel to the Fire", Art & Soul, Bombay (co-curator & participant, collaborated with Sujata Bajaj.)
2025 “Touch Wood”, Gallerie Pitanga, Auroville. (solo show)
2025 “Delegate Show”, Aberystwyth Festival, Wales, UK.
2025 "Roots - Contemporary Zoroastrian sculptures", Zoroastrian Centre for Europe, Harrow, UK.
2025 "Clay and Architecture", ICAF members show, Kanoria Centre, Ahmedabad.
2025 “Sangha”, NCECA Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
2025 “IAC Group Show”, Australian Ceramic Triennale, Fremantle, W. Australia.
2024 "Ceremics in the Mediterranean World", Armazem das Artes, Alcobaca, Portugal.
2024 “In Transit”, Shridharni Gallery, New Delhi (parallel group show of Indian Ceramic Triennale, featuring members
of International Academy of Ceramics) (participant and facilitator)
2023 “Multiple Realities”, Claycrch Gimhae Museum, S. Korea. (Ceramic group show)
2023. "Squaring the Circle”, Arthshila, Shantiniketan (Ceramic group show)
2023 "Ceramic Laboratory”, Rothko Centre, Latvia (Ceramic group show)
2023 "The Art of India”, Bikaner House, New Delhi (The Times of India group show)
2023 “True Blue”, Ashram Gallery, Pondicherry (Ceramic group show)
2023 "One Pot”, IIC, New Delhi (Delhi Blue Pottery Trust group show)
2023 "The Art of India”, Snowball Studios, Bombay (The Times of India group show)
2022 "Clay Carrots”, Gallery 079 Stories, Ahmedabad (Ceramic group show)
2021 "Spirit of India", Sarala Art Gallery, Bharat Niwas, Auroville (Group show, ceramic work)
2020 “Clay – Off the Wall”, Gallery Art & Soul, Bombay (co-curator with Shayonti Salvi & exhibitor)
2020 “Table Manners – 2”, Gallery Art & Soul, Bombay (co-curator with Shayonti Salvi & exhibitor)
2020 “International Macsabal Competition“, Turkey ( 2 selected bowls)
2019 “A Resolute Witness”, Gallery Manora, Bangalore (Ceramic group show)
2019 “Bowl’d Over”, Gallery Manora, Bangalore (Ceramic group show Ceramics and clay paintings)
2018 “Breaking Ground”, 1st Indian Ceramic Triennial, Jaipur, India. (Invitational event)
2018 “Morningstar”, Charlestown Gallery, Nevis. (Ceramic group show)
2018 “International Ceramic Boxes”, Loes & Reinier, Deventer, Netherlands. (Ceramic group show)
2018 “New Orientalia”, IAC Delegates Show, Taipei, Taiwan. (Ceramic group show)
2018 “Six by Six”, Tai-Hwa Gallery, Yinnge, Taiwan (Ceramic Indo-Australian group show)
2018 “Diagonal Eleven”, Gallery Mimo, Faenza, Italy. (Ceramic group show)
2018 “Symbols & Scripts”, Indian Heritage Centre Museum, Singapore (Ceramic participation)
2018 “Transitional Spaces”, Pilgrim Art Gallery, Bikaner House, Delhi (Ceramics and clay paintings)
2018 “Porcelain”, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. (Co-curator, show by Delhi Blue Pottery Trust)
2018 “Animal, Planet”, Gallery Art & Soul, Bombay. (Ceramic group show)
2017 “Golden Sunbeams-1”, Martimandir Gardens, Auroville (Curator-mixed media group show)
2017 “Journey of Transformation”, VAG, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (ceramic group show)
2017 “Fired Frequencies”, Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara. (Ceramic group show)
2017 “Sentinels”, The Cube Gallery, Goa. (Solo show, ceramics and unfired clay paintings)
2016 “Art Bengaluru”, U B City, Bangalore (mixed media group show)
2016 “Luminous”, Gallery Nvya, New Delhi (ceramic group show)
2016 “Ceramics in Architecture”, Delegates’ Show at the IAC convention, Barcelona 2016.
2016 “In Collaboration”, duo show with Laxma Goud, Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai
2016 “Ceramic Spectrum”, Cube Gallery, Goa. (Group show, mixed media participation)
2015 “Six by Six: Reinterpreting Craft in Gondwana”, (Indo-Australian group show at Stepping Up, Australian Triennial, Canberra.)
2015 “Art Bengaluru”, U B City, Bangalore (Mixed media group show)
2015 “Once were Barcodes”, installation, Art Bengaluru, Bangalore. (Unfired clay-acrylic paintings)
2015 “Ceramic Connect”, an Indo-Korean group show, INKO centre, Chennai.
2015 “Touching Earth, Soaring Skies”, Terra Forma Gallery, New Delhi (Ceramic group show)
2015 “What is Auroville?” Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai (Mixed media group show)
2015 “Akshara, Crafting Indian Scripts”, CSM museum, Bombay (Mixed media group show)
2015 “Transformation”, Savitri Bhavan, Auroville. (Unfired clay paintings, barcode series)
2015 “Terra Forma”, Vivanta Gallery, Gurgaon. (Ceramic group show)
2015 “Unity Barcode”, Unity Pavilion, Auroville (Unfired clay paintings, barcode series)
2015 “Codes”, Dakshinachitra Gallery, Chennai. (Duo-show of painted media)
2015 “Akshara, Crafting Indian Scripts”, CSMVS Museum, Mumbai (Ceramic participation)
2015 “4 Expressions of Auroville”, Apparao Galleries, Chennai. (Group show, ceramic & paintings)
2015 “The Art of Chess”, Apparao Galleries, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai. (Grp show, ceramic)
2014 “International Ceramic Exchange”, Naori, S. Korea (Group show)
2014 “Shades of Grey”, Gaya Design Centre, Bali, Indonesia (Solo, ceramics and batik)
2014 “Bridges”, Stainless Gallery, New Delhi. (Group ceramic show)
2013 “Secrets & Lies”, Gallery Art & Soul, Bombay. (Solo, ceramics & painted media)
2013 “Akshara, Indian Calligraphy redefined”, Hanager Arts Centre, Cairo, Egypt. (Ceramics)
2013 “Indian Pavilion”, Fule International Ceramic Art Museum, Fuping, China
2013 “Premonitions”, Citadyn Centre d’Art, Auroville. (Solo; ceramics/unfired clay paintings)
2013 “Akshara, Crafting Indian Scripts”, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France (Ceramics)
2013 “Traditions Evolving”, NCECA conference, Houston, USA. (Group show)
2013 “The Bucket Show”, Forum Gallery, Chennai. (International group show)
2012 “Akshara”, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (Mixed media group show)
2012 “4 Continents Ceramic Exhibition”, the Studio Gallery, Yallingup, W Australia.
2012 “Collection from Sasama”, Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Mino, Gifu, Japan (Group show)
2012 “Qalam-Atma International Calligraphy Exhibition, Jaipur. (Ceramic participation)
2012 “Art On Sunday”, Petite Ferme, Auroville (Solo show, paintings & ceramics)
2012 “International Group Show”, Gallery Hu, Nagoya, Japan. (Ceramic group show)
2012 “Jeff Shapiro & Friends”, Kala Kendra, Auroville, India. (Ceramic group show)
2011 “Delegate’s Master Show”, Verkehr Shimizu Museum, Shizoka, Japan. (Ceramic group show)
2011 “Himitsu Te Uso”, SCCP, Shigaraki, Japan. (Solo ceramic show)
2011 “Continental Drift”, Deloraine Gallery, Tasmania, Australia. (Anagama/woodfired group show)
2011 “Atmos-fire”, Artifakt Gallery, Australia. (International invitational group show)
2011 “International Tea Pot Show”, Shanghai, China. (Also in 2010, 2009 & 2008)
2011 “Firebox”, anagama ceramics, #1 Shanthiroad Gallery, Bangalore. (Ceramic group show)
2010 “Treasures”, Gallery Time & Space, Bangalore. (Solo show, ceramics & painted media)
2010 “ICMEA Emerging Ceramic Artist Competition”, Fuping, Shaanxi, China. (Selected entry)
2010 “10 Years of Wood-fire”, Knighthood’s Assembly, Tallinn, Estonia. (Ceramic group show)
2009 “The White Rabbit”, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. (Solo show,
sponsored by Delhi Blue Pottery Trust, ceramics & painted media)
2009 “2nd Shanghai-Shenyao International Wood-kiln Exhibition”, Gallery Shenyao, Shanghai.
2009 “5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009”, CEBIKO, S. Korea. (Selected entry)
2009 “Small Objects - Fete Picasso Auction”, Vallauris, France.
2009 “Maati - Explorations in Terracotta”, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (Delhi Blue Pottery Trust’s international show)
2008 “Table Manners”, co-curator and participant, Kala Kendra, Auroville. (Ceramics)
2008 “Mad Hatters Tea Party”, ICIA Gallery, Bombay. (All India teapot show)
2008 “International Ceramics”, Sanbao Ceramic Studio, Jingdezhen, China. (Ceramic group show)
2008 “Resonances”, Provence, France. (Auroville artists’ mixed media by Marie Claire Barsotti)
2008 “Threshold”, Gallery Art & Soul, Bombay. (Solo, ceramics & painted media)
2008 “Miniatures”, Artist Centre, Bombay. (Solo, ceramics & paintings)
2008 “Harmony 2008”, Nehru Centre, Bombay. (Mixed media, All India Art shows hosted by Reliance Industries
in 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008)
2007 “Contemporary Ceramics”, Lemongrasshopper Gallery, Ahmedabad. (Ceramic group show)
2007 “Masters Show, Clay Edge 2007”, Cudgegong Gallery, Australia. (Invitational ceramic show)
2005 “Stoneware”, Hatworks Boulevard, Bangalore. (Solo show, ceramics)
2004 “Peace and Harmony”, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. (Delhi Blue Pottery Trust’s international biennale)
2003 “Potters in Peril”, National Gallery of Modern Art, Bombay. (Indo-US show)