Biography

I left the business world and career in marketing when my children were born and entered the ceramic industry as an enthusiastic amateur, attending classes and masterclasses at various studios to learn and expose myself to the skills level that enabled me to open my studio in 2003. Initially, I worked with glass before turning my full attention to clay, first as a teacher for adults and children and then full-time producing unique and bespoke porcelain pieces. Completing a Bachelor of Arts degree with Art History and Ancient History as majors at the end of 2021 inspired me to continue with further post-graduate studies and research in Ancient Near Eastern History which I completed in January 2024.

In my work I intend to create textures that compel touch and provoke memory and the shadows cast by the interplay of light are an integral part of each piece enhancing the quality of the clay. As life evolves, my work too evolves and once created, each piece is a path to an expression which possesses an essence of life, a statement of being. The ethereal qualities of porcelain are my passion, and exploring the material is an ongoing journey. New work explores the reaction of acid on the clay body as a masking agent combined with the use of soluble salts and other rare earth minerals to enhance the designs that maintain the porcelain’s translucency.

I embarked on a new journey of wood-firing, first in 2018 building a small philosopher’s kiln and then in 2020 a down-draught fast-fire kiln during the COVID lockdown. It has taken me to avenues of exploring raw materials for clays and glazes suitable for reduction and atmospheric firing, in the process I have learned more about fire, the art of painting with flames and the natural phenomenon of ash glazing. The darker and heavier clay bodies that I now work with too, lean towards heavier pieces where the surface decoration of the firing process enhances the shapes. I am inclined to leave deliberate fingermarks on these pieces – a statement of my making and being.

Collections:

  • Quomo Art Gallery Jingdezhen, China 2024
  • Shanghai Institute of Visual Art 2023
  • Jianshui Purple Pottery Museum 2023
  • Ceramics Museum, Aveiro Portugal 2016
  • 5th Changchun International Ceramics Museum, China 2016
  • National Museum of Slovenia, 2015Ceramics Museum, Aveiro Portugal 2013
  • Bloemfontein War Museum South Africa 2013
  • Cluj International Ceramics Biennale, Romania 2013    
  • KERAMEIKON Collection of Contemporary World Ceramics, Croatia 2012
  • Corobrick Collection Pretoria 2011

Awards & Competitions:

Oct 2017 – XIII International Biennial of Artistic Ceramics of Aveiro, Portugal

Aug 2016 – Ceramica Multiplex 2016 Croatia

Nov 2015 – XII Bienal de Cerâmica Artística de Aveiro, Portugal

May 2015 – III Triennial of Ceramics UNICUM 2015 Slovenia

July 2013 – Cluj International Ceramics Biennale 2013 Romania

July 2013 – 11ª Biennial International Artistic Ceramics Exhibition Aveiro, Portugal 2013

Aug 2012 – SA Handmade Collection Decorex – Gold Award, Best Stand South Africa

Aug 2012 – The Iconic Handmade Piece South Africa –Decorex Gauteng South Africa

Aug 2012 – Ceramica Multiplex 2012 Croatia – Honourable Mention

Aug 2011 – Decorex – SA Handmade Collection – Award for Best Product Design South Africa

Aug 2011 – CSA Regional Exhibition – Highly Commended Award South Africa

Jun 2011 – Gyeonggi International CeraMIX Biennale 2011, Korea – Certificate of Honor

Apr 2011 – 9th International Ceramics Competition Mino, Japan – Honourable Mention

Oct 2010 – CSA National Exhibition – Best Porcelain Piece South Africa

Aug 2009 – Icons – Decorex – SA Handmade Collection South Africa

Residencies, Symposiums, Festivals:

  • Taoxhicuan International Clay Studio, Jingdezhen 2024
  • 5th Shanghai – Yunnan Jianshui International Woodfired Ceramics Festival, China 2023
  • 5th Changchun International Ceramics Symposium, China 2016

Membership:

  • International Academy of Ceramics
  • Ceramics South Africa- Western Cape

Workshops presented:

  • July 2023 – Wood-firing Meraki Woodfire Kiln – Northvale Krugersdorp Gauteng
  • June 2023 – Introduction to Paperclay/Porcelain – Giverny Studios, KwaZulu Natal
  • June 2023 – Advanced Paper porcelain lights – Giverny Studios, KwaZulu Natal
  • Nov 2022 – Porcelain Paperclay – Rushmere Farm, Sedgefield, Eastern Cape
  • October 2022 – Porcelain Paperclay – Melissa Barker Studio, Western Cape
  • June 2022 – Porcelain Paperclay – Giverny Studios, KwaZulu Natal
  • June 2022 – Wood-firing Meraki the Woodfire kiln with special Guest Hennie Meyer – Northvale Gauteng
  • Mar 2022 – Porcelain Paperclay – Ceramics @ Kleynstein Studio, Pretoria

Other exhibitions include:

Nov 2024Gather Friends: Group ExhibitionFynArts Gallery, Hermanus, RSA
Sep 2024Ceramics Southern Africa National BiennaleGIBS, Johannesburg, RSA
Apr 2024Walk with the Light, International Modern Ceramics ExhibitionQuomo Art Gallery Jingdezhen, China
Nov 2023Earthen Emerald:  Group ExhibitionJohan van Heerden Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
Oct 2023International Woodfired Ceramics Works Exhibition, Shanghai Institute of Visual Art 2023Shanghai Towers, Shanghai, China
Sep 2023International Woodfired Ceramics Works ExhibitionJianshui Purple Pottery Museum, Yunan Province, China
May 2023Blue! Group ExhibitionJohan van Heerden Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
Sep 2022Maison & Object, South African PavilionParis, France
May 2022Of Mothers and Madonna’s Group ExhibitionJohan van Heerden Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
Feb 2022After the Rain Group ExhibitionJohan van Heerden Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
Sep 2021A Fling with Spring, Tina Skukan GalleryPretoria, South Africa
Aug 2021Wood-fired & Other Ceramics, Featured Potter, Association of ArtsPretoria, South Africa
Jun 2021Desire – The Cape GalleryCape Town, South Africa
Jun 2021Hermanus FynArtsHermanus, South Africa
Jun 2021LuminariesArtbox Gallery, Pretoria RSA
May 2021Fabergé InspiredJohan van Heerden Art Gallery, Pretoria RSA
Sep 2020Hermanus FynArtsOnline Exhibition
Jun 2020Gallery SynergyOnline Exhibition
Nov 2019Connected by FireRust-en-Vrede Gallery, Durbanville Cape Town RSA
Nov 2018Ceramics Southern Africa National BiennaleRust-en-Vrede Gallery, Durbanville Cape Town RSA
Sep 2018Ceramics Southern Africa Regional ExhibitionMuseumAfricA, Gauteng, South Africa
Jun 2018Hermanus FynArtsHermanus, South Africa
Feb 2018Legacy Exhibition, Three Potters and a PainterStellenbosch, South Africa
Dec 2017International Celadon Exhibition, Huamao Art MuseumNingbo, Zhejiang Province, China
Dec 2017Association of Arts Plate ExhibitionPretoria, South Africa
Dec 2017Let there be light Exhibition II, ArtBox GalleryPretoria, South Africa
Oct 20173rd Cluj Ceramics Biennale (2017) Cluj-NapocaRomania
Oct 2017XIII International Biennial of Artistic Ceramics of AveiroPortugal
Oct 2017Ceramics Southern Africa Regional ExhibitionMuseumAfricA, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 2017Decorex 2017 Gauteng, The South African Craft CollectiveGauteng, South Africa
July 2017The David Walters & Friends Exhibition: Art in Clay, William Humphreys Art GalleryKimberley, South Africa
Dec 2016Eat, drink and be merry pottery exhibition, Association of ArtsPretoria, South Africa
Nov 2016Tellus Sculptura Exhibition, Association of ArtsPretoria, South Africa
Nov 2016Ceramics South Africa National BiennaleUniversity of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Oct 2016Let there be light Exhibition, ArtBox GalleryPretoria, South Africa
Aug 2016Decorex 2017 Gauteng, The South African Craft CollectiveGauteng, South Africa
Aug 2016CERAMICA MULTIPLEX 2016City Museum Varazdin Croatia
July 20165TH Changchun International Ceramics SymposiumChina
Nov 2015XII Bienal de Cerâmica Artística de AveiroPortugal
Oct 2015CSA Regional Exhibition GautengFADA, Gauteng, South Africa
July 2015The Promenade: Healing in Nature.   Co-Exhibition of Icheon World Ceramic Center and the National Folk Museum of KoreaKorea
July 2015GiftexTokyo, Japan
July 2015Decor & DesignMelbourne, Australia
June 2015Forms of ExpressionHermanus Fine Arts, Hermanus, South Africa
May 2015III Triennial of Ceramics UNICUMSlovenia
May 2015Index DubaiDubai, UAE
May 2015Exhibition- Rika Herbst & Stephen GrahamAlliance Francaise, Johannesburg, South Africa
Oct 2014Art ExhibitionThe Leonardo Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
Oct 2014The Name of The Rose ExhibitionRust-En-Vrede Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Jun 2014CSA Regional Exhibition GautengMuseumAfricA, Gauteng, South Africa
May2014Index DubaiDubai, UAE
Apr 2014Decorex CTCape Town, South Africa
Mar 2014Decorex DurbanDurban, South Africa
Mar 2014Art Exhibition, Annica’s, Michaelangelo Towers, SandtonGauteng, South Africa
Oct 2013Cluj International Ceramics BiennaleCluj-Napoca, Romania
Oct 201311ª Bienal Internacional de Cerâmica Artística de Aveiro 2013Aveiro, Portugal
Aug 2013Decorex JHBGallagher Estate, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 2013Women in ClayArt in the Forest, Cape Town, South Africa
Apr 2013CSA Regional Exhibition GautengMuseumAfricA, Gauteng, South Africa
Apr 2013Fragile – The Porcelain CollectiveLiz Loubser Gallery, Risidale, South Africa
Mar 2013Design IndabaCape Town, South Africa
Feb 2013Ambiente – The LoftFrankfurt Germany
Nov 2012KulturZentrumKapfenberg, Austria
Nov 2012TranslucenciesArt Afrique Gallery, Sandton, South Africa
Aug 2012Decorex GautengGallagher Estate, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 2012CERAMICA MULTIPLEX 2012 City Museum Varazdin Croatia
May2012CSA Regional Exhibition GautengMuseumAfricA, Gauteng, South Africa
Mar 2012Design IndabaCape Town, South Africa
Feb 2012Ambiente – The LoftFrankfurt Germany
Dec 2011Af – L’artigiano In FieraMilan, Italy
Sep 20119th International Ceramics CompetitionMino, Japan
Sep 2011Gyeonggi International CeraMIX BiennaleKorea
Aug 2011Decorex SA Handmade Collection GautengGallagher Estate, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 2011CSA Regional ExhibitionEduardo Villa Museum Univ. of Pretoria, South Africa
Apr 2011Easter ExhibitionOu Lettere Building, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Feb 2011Ambiente – The LoftFrankfurt Germany
Jan 2011The Cube at the Clay MuseumRust en Vrede Gallery Durbanville, South Africa
Oct 2010CSA National ExhibitionAfrican Landscapes in Clay
Aug 2010Decorex SA Handmade Collection GautengGallagher Estate, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 2010Echoes ExhibitionThe Art Place, Randburg, South Africa
Aug 2010CSA Regional ExhibitionMuseumAfricA, Gauteng, South Africa
Nov 2009Coming Together at ChristmasCraft & Design Centre Gauteng, South Africa
Sep 2009CSA Regional ExhibitionEduardo Villa Museum Univ. of Pretoria, South Africa
Aug 2009Decorex, South African IconsGallagher Estate, Gauteng, South Africa
July 2009PaceCraft & Design Centre Gauteng, South Africa
July 2009African Landscapes in clayAssociation of Arts Pretoria, South Africa
Feb 2009The Art of Green LivingThe Peech Hotel, Gauteng, South Africa
Aug 2008CSA National ExhibitionUJ Art Gallery, Gauteng, South Africa