ROWLEY
DRYSDALE
ROWLEY DRYSDALE - Ceramic & Mixed Media Artist
Rowley Drysdale is an artist working primarily in ceramics, sculpture and mixed media assemblages. Born in outback Queensland in 1957, he is known as one of Australia's foremost ceramic artists, and the land remains a central inspiration in his artwork. His practice spans four decades of interest in ceramics, especially wood fired work utilising glaze on functional forms, and the development of unique high fired glazes. During the last 15 years he has also created a vast body of mixed media wall work concentrating on alternate use of material including raw canvas, earth, fired clay, found objects, dye and other medium.
Rowley has also been a highly respected lecturer and tertiary educator of visual arts for more than 20 years on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. A published author, he has edited and contributed to industry journals both in Australia and internationally. Additionally, he is a qualified journalist, published poet and short story writer. He has a Master of Arts (Research) from Monash University.
In 2000, Rowley established Quixotica Art Space on the Sunshine Coast, designing and constructing a small art precinct consisting of a number of studios, kilns, gallery and other buildings in order to establish his own studio, run workshops, host artists and present various cultural activities. He has long been recognised as an ambassador for Australian wood fired ceramics and has forged significant relationships with other renowned international potters, particularly in South Korea.
Rowley has worked and exhibited widely in other countries including Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand and is a vocal advocate for handmade objects, craftsmanship and innovation.
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To see and hear Rowley speak about his creative practise, view this video here:
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ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
"The elemental nature of ceramics, quite obvious in the process and often evident in better pieces, is what I most appreciate after 40 years of practice. If nothing else, ceramics is the art of earth, water and fire, and dealing in such a fundamental way with these elements, (as one does for example in a three to five day wood firing), has the potential to become an invaluable cathartic experience. I am appreciative of those people who buy art, who by placing the work in its environment, realise the full potential of each piece, and afford artists like myself to continue making. My work is in numerous private collections, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, China, Korea and Japan. I have taught ceramics extensively, am represented in numerous public collections around Australia, have won many awards, and received a Master of Arts (by research) from Monash University."
E D U C A T I O N
Master of Arts (by research), Monash University
Graduate Diploma of Arts, Monash University
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S E L E C T E D E X H I B I T I O N S
2021
"Flame Path", Group Exhibition, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD
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2020
"Extracts", Solo exhibition, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD
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2019
drysdale juniper, Fox Galleries, Melbourne
"Plates Against the Wall", Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD
Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney
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2018
Here Now, Quixotica Art Space, Cooroy, QLD
2017
‘Imperfect Beauty’, Art on Cairncross, Maleny, QLD
2016
Director’s Choice, Fox Galleries, Melbourne
2015
Mansfield Gallery, Sydney (solo)
International Chawan Exhibition, Belgium
Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne
Tong In Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Daegu Gallery, South Korea
2014
Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney (solo)
International Chawan Exhibition, Singapore
Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne
Tong-in Gallery , Seoul, South Korea
Hong Kong Art Fair, Hong Kong
International Wood Fire Conference, N.S.W.
Roma Regional Art Gallery, QLD (solo)
Selsius International Delegates Exhibition, Penang, Malaysia
2013
Naami Island International Ceramic Festival, South Korea
Sunshine Coast Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD
Floating Land, Quixotica Art Space, Cooroy, QLD (solo)
Sturt Gallery, NSW
Clay Push, Gulgong, NSW
University of the Sunshine Coast, QLD
Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney, NSW
‘Earth, Wind & Fire’, Art on Cairncross, Maleny, QLD
2012
KOCEF Gallery, Incheon, South Korea
Subvert, National Ceramics Conference, Adelaide
Townsville Ceramics Award, QLD
Gympie Regional Gallery, QLD
2011
World Ceramic Biennial International Workshop Exhibition, South Korea
Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne
Mansfield Gallery, Gulgong
Ergon Energy Art Award, Rockhampton, QLD
’16 not out’, Art on Cairncross, Maleny, QLD
2010
Masterworks Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
Tamba Connection, Cooroy
Butter Factory, Sunshine Coast
Travelling Scholarship Exhibition, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Wood Firers, Gulgong, NSW
2009
Gallery Shu, Kyoto Japan (solo)
Maestro Gallery, Sydney
Floating Land, Noosa Regional Gallery, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Daegu, Korea
2008
Freeland Gallery, Sydney (solo)
The Gallery Eumundi, QLD (solo)
Kanayama International Wood Fire Festival, Japan
Salute - Australian Survey Exhibition, Fusions, QLD
Ergon Art Awards, Rockhampton
Quixotica Artists, QLD
Flamework, QLD
Wood Fire Survey Exhibition, Fusions, QLD
Sydney Myer International Ceramic Award, VIC
Aust. Wood fire conference, NSW
2007
Australasian Museum of Ceramics, Shanxii, China
Floating Land International Environmental Sculpture, QLD
Freeland Gallery, Sydney
Clayedge 2008 Masters Exhibition, NSW
Quixotica Artists, Cooroy, QLD
2006
Graydon Gallery, QLD (solo)
Frances Reilly Gallery, QLD (solo)
2nd Generation Masters, National Ceramics Conference, QLD
Art on Cairncross, QLD
2005
Mulgara Gallery, Uluru, NT
2002
Drysdale Studio, Kenilworth, QLD
2000
Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
1998
Drysdale Studio, Kenilworth, QLD
1998
Robin Gibson Gallery, Sydney, NSW
1997
Drysdale Studio, Kenilworth, QLD
1996
Fusions Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
1996
Nessarc Gallery, Wollongong, NSW
1996
Fusions Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
1995
Mulgara Gallery, Uluru, NT
1994
Mulgara Gallery, Uluru, NT
A W A R D S
2023 - Finalist - Sunshine Coast Art Price, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2023 - Finalist - Local Artist, Local Content, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2016 Ceramic Arts Queensland Siliceous Award
2012 Townsville Ceramic Art Scot Brickworks Award
2010 Peter Voulkos Medal, Gulgong
2009 Townsville Ceramic Art Award
2009 Open Award winner
R E S I D E N C I E S
2013 Naami Island International Ceramic Festival
2012 Inchon Ceramic Cultural Exchange, South Korea
2011 International workshop program, World Ceramic Biennial, South Korea
2007 Australasian Museum of Ceramics, Shanxi, China
2008 Kanayama International Wood firing Symposium, Honshu, Japan
S E L E C T E D COLLECTIONS
Public:
Tong-in Permanent Collection, South Korea;
University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia;
Australasian Museum of Ceramics, Shanxii, China;
Kanayama Pottery Collection, Japan;
Janet Mansfield International Ceramic Collection, Gulgong, NSW. Australia;
Brisbane City Art Gallery, QLD;
Ipswich City Art Gallery, QLD;
Brisbane International Airport, QLD;
Townsville Art Gallery, QLD;
Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery, QLD;
Caloundra Regional Gallery, QLD;
Tweed River Regional Art Gallery, NSW;
Gladstone Regional Art Gallery, QLD;
University of Southern QLD.;
James Cook University, QLD.;
Rockhampton Art Gallery,Qld.;
Fusions permanent collection, QLD.;
North Queensland Potters permanent collection
Queensland Potters Association collectin
Private:
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China, U.S.A., Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Pakistan, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia
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COMMISSIONS:
Rowley has been commissioned by numerous companies to produce works including; Ayers Rock Resort, Yulara; Naami Island Hotel, South Korea: Observatory Hotel, Brisbane; Park Hyatt, Sydney; Oceanic Hotel, Coogee; Sheraton Hotel, Brisbane, the Marriott Hotel, Brisbane and Brisbane Boys College.
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R E C E N T P U B L I C A T I O N S
The Log Book UK, 2019
Journal of Australian ceramics: A Korean Odyssey, 2014
Installations: Rowley Drysdale, 2013
Ceramic Art and Perception magazine, 2013
The Log Book. U.K., 2012
The Art of Wood Fired Ceramics, 2011
Journal of Australian Ceramics, 2010
Craft Art International, Issue 69
The Australian, newspaper, July 2007
Journal of Australian Ceramics, 2009
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T E A C H I N G
2017 Educator, Canberra University, Bachelor of Visual Arts program
1996 - 2016 Educator, Sunshine Coast TAFE Creative Industries School
1988- 1990 Educator, Qld Flying Arts School
1987 Educator, Aurilla Aboriginal Training
S E L E C T E D L E C T U R E S
2014 University Sains Malaysia. Penang. Malaysia
2014 QLD Flying Arts
2014 QLD Ceramics Assn.
2012 Australian Ceramic Conference, Adelaide
2011 Yeoju, South Korea. Place and art
2009 Australian Ceramics Triennial. Exhibitions commercial and didactic
2008 Aomori, Japan. An Australian historical overview
2007 Gulgong. N.S.W. Masters Lecture
O T H E R
President, Australian Wood Firers United, since 2019
Creative Director, Australian Wood Fired Conference, 2016-8
Guest editor, Journal of Australian Ceramics, Issue 49, 2010
Presenter, Australian Ceramics Conference, Sydney, 2009
Instigator and coordinator inaugural 2010 International Summer School of Ceramics & ESL, Sunshine Coast TAFE
RADF grant recipient Tamba Connection, Sunshine Coast
Co-producer short film Quixotica, 2008
Concept development and senior artist Firings on the Lake event, Floating Land, 2007, 2009, 2011