Breaking the mould: Australia's new ceramicists taking the industry by storm

There’s been a rise in recent years of handmade homewares and curios, and one of the most popular is clay ceramics – and not just for its beauty.

With an increasing number of ceramicists emerging, the local scene has become a thriving collaborative and nurturing community.

“They share studios, kilns, advice and are very open to collaboration,” says Amber Creswell Bell, author of Clay: Contemporary Ceramic Artisans. “This sense of sharing gives a great sense of camaraderie, which builds confidence, and allows the makers to push themselves creatively in ways they might not have otherwise. I am yet to meet a ceramicist with a huge ego – they are warm, generous and passionate about what they do.”

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) design store, a long-time supporter of Australian ceramicists, recently collaborated with designer and artist Ryan Foote on a collection inspired by the Van Gogh and the Seasons exhibition.

“We have a great history of engaging with local ceramicists to develop original collections inspired by exhibitions on display and our permanent collection,” says the NGV’s spokesperson Marion Joseph.

Foote’s creative repertoire is innovative and wide-ranging. It was, however, his prior experimentation with food, including his custom silicon moulds and distinctive handmade tableware, that made him the perfect fit for the job.

“Given Ryan’s scope and approach, we knew he would respond well to the brief, and that his style would suit the rich colour palette of the Van Gogh canvases,” Joseph says.

Foote designed a collection of shapes inspired by Van Gogh’s love of the natural world, seasonal colours and moods. Delicately crafting tableware using fine white porcelain, he handpainted clay onto the moulds, creating the strong lines, contrasts and colourways that feature predominantly in Van Gogh’s work.

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More recently, NGV partnered with Meg and Zenta Tanaka, of Japanese concept store CIBI, on an exclusive porcelain collection inspired by the current Hokusai exhibition.

Hokusai, the artist, ukiyo-e painter and printmaker who was born in 176 and lived during the Edo period, is famous for his iconic work The Great Wave off Kanagawa.

The Tanakas are notable for their ease and skill in beautifully blending Japanese sensibilities with contemporary Australian style.

Bridget Bodenham, who creates chic serving ware, works out of a converted shipping container overlooking her vegie garden and beloved chooks in country Victoria.

Her collaboration with the NGV was inspired by A Golden Age of China: Qianlong Emperor, 1736-1795. Her exquisite ceramic pieces mirrored the detailed golden patterns in the Emperor’s solid gold winged cup and embroidered silk robes. Bodenham fired the various vessels three times each – in temperatures up to 1300C – and, to finish, applied eight-carat gold lustre.

The result was a collection of unique pieces that perfectly married ancient inspiration with her signature aesthetic.

“We encourage the artists to draw inspiration from our exhibitions, but also want them to push the boundaries of their own artistic practice,” Joseph says.

For the founders of Earth & Baker, Amanda Barrett and husband and co-creator Michael Budworth, pushing creative boundaries is simply taking a look outside.

Working from their Burleigh Hill studio, they sit nestled among beautiful native trees and look out over the Queensland coastline.

“As a result our signature style is casual and organic,” Barrett says.

“Before we started Earth & Baker, we were avid collectors and enjoyed purchasing beautiful handmade homewares. We were looking to try our hand at something creative that we could work on together, so we took up pottery at the Gold Coast Potters Association, where I still attend classes.”

Earth & Baker primarily use the hand-building technique, a method that involves crafting clay by hand and using a slab roller to create shapes. “We originally produced collections,” says Barrett. “Now we create one-off pieces when inspiration hits and sell them through our online store.”

Potter Sandra Tyson, a former nurse who retired due to a rare heart disease, says working with clay is a relaxing and rewarding form of therapy. “I once enjoyed going to work every day, but now I enjoy getting up in the morning and thinking about what pieces I can create,” she says.

Tyson founded All Fired Up two years ago and is based on the Gold Coast with her husband and daughter. “I have always been crafty and working with clay was always on my bucket list,” she says.

While naturally creative, educating herself has been the biggest challenge. “Finding a place to learn, understand different clays and glazes, and working out which suited my style best, was trickier than I imagined.”

Tyson learnt the craft at Picasso Ceramics in Burleigh and at Benowa Potters. “I took up hand-building initially, and now I am learning the wheel, which is nothing like the movie Ghost, I can assure you. It requires full focus and an eye for detail.”

With her custom-made ceramics appearing in publications like Donna Hay, and retailing through stores here and abroad, Tyson says she finds the artistic process enjoyably challenging.

“My daughter created some hand-built pieces and sold every one,” she says. “She was meticulous, and you have to be. It is a craft that you have to put your heart and soul into.

“Hand-built ceramics are unique; no two are the same and customers appreciate that. My style is rustic, organic, wobbly and definitely not perfect, but people who are not afraid to take a risk often create something unique.”

Altough imperfect ceramics, with a wabi-sabi aesthetic, have enjoyed success over the past few years, a more streamlined look is emerging.

“I see the trend veering towards striking silhouettes, clean lines and clever glazes, with a touch of mid-century modern style,” says Cresswell Bell, whose love of ceramics is far more than decorative.

With her custom-made ceramics appearing in publications like Donna Hay”I use ceramics every day,” she says. “I drink tea out of handmade ceramic mugs, keep my rings in a ceramic bowl, eat off handmade ceramic tableware and own more ceramic vases than I should admit to. Each piece is a one-off, and that is truly special.”