2021 PORTAGE CERAMIC AWARDS TO PICK AOTEAROA’S TOP POTTER

The finalists for the 2021 Portage Ceramic Awards have been announced, with a shortlist reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of Aotearoa’s top artists working with clay. 33 works by 30 ceramicists are up for this year’s award, which provides a vital platform to showcase the diversity of contemporary ceramic practice. With finalists from across the motu, media are invited to interview artists ahead of the Premier Award announcement on 3 December 2021. 

Once the winner is announced, Te Uru in Titirangi will open their annual Portage Ceramic Awards exhibition, with all works selected as finalists on show to the public for the first time. 

Open to all New Zealand artists working with clay, the Portage Ceramic Awards is Aotearoa’s premier award recognising excellence in ceramic arts practice, now in its 21st year. For 2021, the finalists and winner are selected by two-time Premier Award winner Raewyn Atkinson, marking only the second time in the award’s 21-year history to have a New Zealander in the role of judge.

“It was very interesting to then be 'on the other side' as a judge. It was not something I ever expected to do, but I saw it as a way to give back to the Portage, an award that had benefited me so much. I knew that it would be challenging but had not anticipated quite how enriching the task would be. It was an education to have virtual access to studios across the length of Aotearoa and to see current trends.” – Raewyn Atkinson, 2021 Judge

The finalists embrace a wide range of media, including clay, stoneware, and terracotta, with a range of glazes, stains and firing techniques, as well works that incorporate photography, videography, and mixed media elements, from shells to stones to electronics. 

“It was a challenge to be called on to select from a wide range of divergent styles. Despite this, I think it is a good thing that there are no categories, leaving the work free of pigeonholing.” – Raewyn Atkinson, 2021 Judge

The winners will be announced on 3 December, with the exhibition of works open to the public from 4 December 2021 – 27 February 2022, subject to Alert Levels. A post-awards talk with the judge will take place on Saturday 4 December at 11am, either in the gallery or online, also subject to Alert Levels.

Over the coming summer, art lovers from West Auckland and beyond can head to Te Uru in Titirangi for a chance to see the works of the finalists and winner in person. For more information, visit teuru.org.nz or The Portage Ceramic Awards on Facebook.

2021 FINALISTS:

  • Greg Barron, Whangārei
    Lugged jar with basalt inclusions, woodfired stoneware

  • Blue Black, Ōtepoti Dunedin
    Covid 2020 bubble, ceramics and oil painted board

  • Phil Brooks, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    In one ear, hand-coiled stoneware

  • Oliver Cain, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Fruit bowl V, ceramic urinal filled with ceramic bananas

  • Madeleine Child, Ōtepoti Dunedin
    Circus of rings, ceramic

  • Andrea du Chatenier, Whanganui
    Softfall, porcelain and stoneware clay

  • Liz Fea, Buderim, Queensland
    Weeping metropolis, stoneware

  • Mel Ford, Taitoko Levin
    Common ground, fired and carbonised clay from various sources both locally dug and dried out bags of imported clay from a communal ceramic studio

  • Emelia French, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Thingamajiggies, clays (mix of firings: electric kiln, sawdust kiln and paper kiln)

  • Mark Goody, Waitākere
    Nan’s sitting room, salt glazed stoneware

  • Fiona Jack, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Rahu bottles, stoneware
    Rollo bottles, stoneware

  • Jino Jeong, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Mystery moon, black clay, slips
    Genetic map, porcelain, colour slip inlay

  • Chuck Joseph, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Like herding cats, paper clay, stains, glaze and brass wire

  • LEE & SHIM - Keum-Sun Lee & Sang-Sool Shim, Takapuna, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND, stoneware

  • Matt McLean, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Diversions, earthenware clay

  • Teresa Peters, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    ECHOES, clay collection archived as framed photography
    FOSSIL, ceramic fossil archived as framed photography

  • Louise Rive, Westmere, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    In the shadow of the forest, white clay, stains and glaze

  • John Roy, Tauranga
    Glare, earthenware

  • Rick Rudd, Whanganui
    Teapot, earthenware

  • Takaaki Sakaguchi, Ōtautahi Christchurch
    Before the ending of daylight, stoneware

  • Aaron Scythe, Whanganui
    To take root, porcelain and stoneware. Clear, Kizeto, coloured-Shino, Setoguro style, Oribe glazes and onglaze enamels

  • Liz Sharek, Matakana, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Encrusted, clay, underglaze, glaze

  • Duncan Shearer, Paeroa
    Jar, wood fired stoneware

  • Rebecca Steedman, Birkdale, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Making do, woodfired ceramics, including ash glaze, and hand-case sliver screws

  • Marie Strauss, Te Konika o te Matamata Mosgiel
    Perched siren, mid fire porcelain, sand, pumice and oyster shells

  • Marie Strauss & David Milne, Te Konika o te Matamata Mosgiel
    Still life with two vessels, stoneware, thrown vessels with high fired glazes

  • Toby Twiss, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
    Terracoustic, terracotta, Bluetooth® amplifier, speakers

  • Janna van Hasselt, Ōtautahi Christchurch
    Loll, glazed porcelain

  • Alex Wilkinson, Waikato
    We did once fit in a box, porcelain, stoneware, sand, stains, oxides, glazes

  • Alex Wilkinson and Ben Wilson, Waikato
    In and out, video - porcelain, shells, water

PORTAGE CERAMIC AWARDS 2021

Winner announced – 3 December 2021

Exhibition – 4 December 2021 – 27 February 2022
Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery
420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604

teuru.org.nz

Proudly supported by The Trusts

Michelle Lafferty