ABOUT

I have recently moved to Nelson from Wellington and work from my home studio. I first started working with ceramics part-time at Hornsby TAFE Northern Sydney in the early 1990s. At the same time I was also studying full time for a Master of Science (Ecotoxicology) at the University of Technology, Sydney. Unfortunately, something had to give and it was the ceramics. After returning to New Zealand, I pursued a full-time science-based career until the lure of ceramics again got the better of me. After four years working part-time and studying, I completed a Diploma in Ceramic Art from the School of Art at Otago Polytechnic in November 2009.

I primarily take my inspiration from the world around me - the colours, forms, sounds and textures of the land, sea and bush are limitless. My work aims to capture the essence of our wild places and is intended for quiet contemplation in a world which is far too busy.

I love the tactile nature of unglazed surfaces and the subtlety of finishes which can be achieved without glaze. All my work is hand-formed by pinching and coiling using combinations of porcelain and stoneware clays with the silky, translucent porcelain contrasting with the rough, gritty stoneware.

I have works in private collections in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA and on permanent exhibition in the Fu-Le International Ceramics Museum in China.

To listen to a conversation with Paul Blais about my transition from a science-based career to that of a working ceramic artist, go to www.ThePottersCast.com/257

Awards

Excellence Award (open category) Ignition 2016. 1-11 September 2016 Art and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Sunshine Coast. Queensland, Australia. Judge – Anita McIntyre www.suncoastclayworkers.org.au
Certificate of Excellence, Art and Craft Design Awards 2015 Croatia. www.acd-award.com
People’s Choice Award, Ceramicus 2013, Wellington Potters' Assn Annual Exhibition, Lightspace Gallery, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington
Premier Award, Ceramicus 2012, Wellington Potters' Assn Annual Exhibition, Academy Galleries, Wellington. selector – Brendan Adams
Merit Award, 53rd National NZ Society of Potters’ exhibition 2012, Whangamata – selector Marshall Maude (USA)
Elected Artist of the NZ Academy of Fine Arts - appointed August 2011
People’s Choice Award, Ceramicus ’11 – Wellington Potters’ Association annual exhibition
Premier Award, April 2011, 52nd National NZ Society of Potters’ Exhibition The Big Smoke, Auckland, Judge – John Parker
Premier & People’s Choice Awards,Ceramicus ’10 – Wellington Potters’ Association annual exhibition
National Tertiary Ceramics Student Award for Excellence April 2009 at the 50th National NZ Society of Potters’ Exhibition ‘Capital Clay’ held in Wellington

Solo exhibitions

Turangawaewae: a place to stand 4-27 April 2014, Strathnairn Arts, Canberra, Australia. Opened by the NZ High Commissioner, HE Chris Seed.
Territory 26 March – 10 April 2011, Academy Galleries, Wellington.
Landlines 21 October-14 November 2010, Vector Gallery, Expressions Art and Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt

A selection of recent group exhibitions

International·

LA Dwell on Design Fair 2017, June 23-25, with Ann 330 Gallery, Los Angeles Events Centre, Los Angeles, United States of America
Ignition 2016, 1-11 September 2016 Art and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Sunshine Coast. Queensland, Australia. Judge – Anita McIntyre
AIR: A retrospective of works by Artists in Residence, 29 January – 15 February 2015, Strathnairn Arts, Canberra, ACT, Australia, curated by Peter Haynes
The Australian Ceramics Assn 50th Anniversary Vase Show, 28 Sept - 1 October 2012. Australian Ceramics Triennale, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
ICMEA 2010 3rd international Emerging Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, 8-15th November 2010, Fuping, China. International juried selection
Sakai Part 5 May 2010, Sakai City, Japan

New Zealand

The L Word – redefining landscape 13 September – 15 October 2018, Parker Gallery, Nelson
Time and Tide 1 – 22 February 2018, Sue Scobie (ceramics) Lynn Price (glass), Parker Gallery, Nelson
Central Otago 27 January – 11 February 2018, Sue Scobie (ceramics) and Lorraine Higgins (painting). The Artists’ Room, Dunedin
Dimension - 17 January - 21 February 2018 wall works by Andi Regan, Jan Downes and Sue Scobie, Quirky Fox Gallery, Hawera
Landlines and Watermarks 2 January - 6 February 2018. Sally Burton (paint), Josh Bashford (ink), Karen alters (wood), Sue Scobie (clay). Kereru Gallery, Mapua.
Fire and Form, Body and Bone 9 December 2017 - 25 February 2018, contemporary ceramics from the top of the South. The Suter Gallery, Nelson.
Xmas 2017 invitational, 9 December 2017 – 24 January 2018. The Artists’ Room, Dunedin.
Arts Gold Awards, 16 September - 19 November 2017, Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery, Alexandra, Central Otago.
Something Blue, 6 May - 1 June 2017 - new ceramics by Sue Scobie and Kate McIntyre, glass by Di Tocker and Katie Brown Quirky Fox Gallery, Hawera
Autumn, 8-26 March 2017, The Suter Art Gallery Aratoi o Whakatu, Nelson. Nelson Suter Art Society Exhibition
Terra Firma, contemporary ceramics from Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast NZ, 5 February - 5 March 2016, The Refinery Artspace, Nelson.
Waiclay National Ceramics Exhibition, 13 November 2015 - 1 February 2016, Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton. Selector – Chester Nealie
Spring, 25 August -9 November 2015, Reflections Gallery, WOW Art Museum, Nelson, , Nelson Suter Art Society Exhibition
Winter, 8-30 August 2015, Nelson Provincial Museum, Nelson Suter Art Society Exhibition
Ceramicus 2013 14-22 September 2013, Lightspace Gallery, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington. Selector – Simon Manchester
By My Hand: Objects, Arts & Textiles 5 - 29 September 2013, NZ Academy of Fine Arts exhibition, Academy Galleries, Wellington – selector Ann Packer
Wishlist, 3-24 December 2014, Form Gallery, Christchurch,
Arts Gold - Central Otago Art Awards, 26 October - 7 December 2013, Russell Henderson Art Gallery, Central Stories Museum, Alexandra. Selectors - Felicity Millburn; Jamie Hanton.
Ceramicus 2012 13-21 October Wellington Potters' Assn Annual Exhibition, Academy Galleries, Wellington. Selector – Brendan Adams
OBJECTive Art Awards, 13 October - 11 November 2012, Mangere Arts Centre - Nga Tohu o Uenuku, Auckland – guest judge Areta Wilkinson
Matariki: Whenua 9 June - 1 July 2012, NZ Academy of Fine Arts exhibition, Academy Galleries, Wellington, NZ
Wellington Regional Arts Review 19 May - 1 July 2012, Mt Marua Gallery, Expressions arts & Entertainment Centre, Upper Hutt
Woodstoke, 53rd National NZ Society of Potters’ exhibition 16 March – 2 April 2012, Whangamata – selector Marshall Maude (USA)
Waiclay National Ceramics Exhibition 2011 2 December 2011 – May 2012 Waikato Museum of Art and History, Hamilton - selector Bruce Dehnert (USA)
Portage Ceramic Awards 2011 13 October – 5 December 2011 Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland NZ – selector Janet Mansfield (Australia)
Ceramicus 2011, 3-11 September 2011,Wellington Potters’ Association annual exhibition Academy Galleries, Wellington – selector Kate Fitzharris
Elements 2011 16 July – 7 August NZSP Wellington Regional exhibition, Blue Pacific Gallery, Pataka Museum of Arts and Culture, Porirua – selector Fiona Tunnicliffe
The Big Smoke 1 – 23 April 2011, 52nd National NZ Society of Potters’ exhibition, Mt Eden Village Centre, Auckland - selector John Parker
Vessels for Life 18 March – 10 April 2011, Statements Gallery, Napier
OBJECTive Art Awards 2010, 16 October – 12 November 2010, Mangere Arts Centre – Nga Tohu o Uenuku, Manukau City, guest judge Philip Clarke.
Ceramicus ’10, 20 August - 5 September 2010, Wellington Potters’ Association annual exhibition Academy Galleries – selector Sue Newitt
Fusion 2010, 7 – 23 April 2010, 51st National Exhibition, NZ Society of Potters’ exhibition, Otago Museum, Dunedin, selector Peter Lange
Elements 2010, 21 February – 20 March 2010, NZ Society of Potters’ regional exhibition, Fielding, selector Anne Verdcourt
Graduation Show Diploma of Ceramic Arts (Otago Polytechnic), 27 – 30 November 2009 Avid Gallery, Wellington

Publications

Scobie S (2019) Finding my way into a career with clay Ceramics Monthly Feb 2019

Country (2016) Awards The Journal of Australian Ceramics 55(3):5

Red (2015) Colour - Ceramic Shots – photographic competition The Journal of Australian Ceramics 54(3):91

Snowlines (2013) Ecological ceramics – photographic competition The Journal of Australian Ceramics 52(3):104

Grima, V (2013) Studio Q+A: Sue Scobie The Journal of Australian Ceramics 52(1):102-105

Dϋnser, S (2011) Emerging ceramic artists: Sue Scobie, Susan St Lawrence and Cate Pates. NZ Potters’ Ceramics Quarterly 31(2):8-11

Scobie S (2011) Five days in Fuping. NZ Potters’ Ceramics Quarterly 31(1):12-13

Landlines (2011) Image in the gallery section of The Journal of Australian Ceramics 50(1):8

© sue scobie 2013