Functional Works of Art – Lindsey Wherrett Ceramics

From her studio in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, ceramic artisan Lindsey Wherrett crafts functional works of art. Each handmade ceramic basin is one-of-a-kind, balancing traditional pottery techniques with contemporary design sensibilities to evoke the poignant beauty of the landscape on which Lindsey lives and works.

Originally a student of architecture, Lindsey gravitated towards ceramics for the direct and tangible connection offered between maker, practice and material. Founding her studio in 2013, she drew upon her architectural background to inform the design thinking that is evident in the form, proportion and materiality of the basins, whilst her appreciation for traditional techniques lends each piece its unique presence. Despite the significant technical challenges associated with creating large functional ceramic objects by hand, the basins are made by hand-throwing on pottery wheels and moulding using jigger and jolley machines, with all glazes developed and made in-house.

From her studio in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, ceramic artisan Lindsey Wherrett crafts functional works of art.

The integrity imbued by such artisanal processes results in pieces that are more functional works of art than they are products in the typical sense. The striking minimal forms embody a sculptural quality, and the natural variation in the glazed surface suggests painterly characteristics. Perhaps the most powerful evocation, though, is of the natural environment. Crafted as they are from mud and minerals, the basins have an intrinsic connection to the earth. The ever-evolving range of glazes, with names like ‘Moss’, ‘Petrichor’ and ‘Mist’, offer artistic, abstracted interpretations of the infinite permutations of the Australian and, particularly, Tasmanian landscape.

The Huon Valley – a tranquil area 30 minutes outside of Hobart with a strong tradition of craft – has had an important role to play, not only as a source of inspiration for Lindsey’s work but also in the growth of the business. A recent move to a new larger workshop in the Huon has marked an era of expansion for the studio. In 2020, Lindsey’s husband Jonathan joined Lindsey Wherrett Ceramics as Studio and Business Development Manager, precipitating the move to the new workshop and, with it, the opportunity for experimentation with processes enabling the business to fulfil orders of larger quantities for commercial projects.

The striking minimal forms embody a sculptural quality, and the natural variation in the glazed surface suggests painterly characteristics.

Capturing an essence of place, Lindsey Wherrett Ceramics interprets artisanal techniques through a contemporary architectural lens. Exemplifying the value of handcrafting practices, the studio’s work fulfils yet transcends its practical purpose to offer something of timeless artistic resolve.