ROWLEY
DRYSDALE
ROWLEY DRYSDALE - Ceramic & Mixed Media Artist
Rowley Drysdale is considered one of Australia's foremost ceramic artists. Born in western Queensland in 1957, the bush remains a central inspiration. Since his early days of working with clay at 20, and throughout the following decades, Rowley has invested countless hours in refining technique and developing glazes.
With wood firing his preferred choice, Rowley’s knowledge of wood kilns makes him a respected wood firer in Australia. Few potters have fired a wood kiln as many times as Rowley! He is president of the Australian Wood Firers’ Union and has forged significant relationships with other renowned international potters, particularly in South Korea, Japan and Finland.
In addition to making, Rowley has been a tertiary educator of visual arts for over three decades. Many ceramic artists have benefitted from his passion to share his extensive knowledge, particularly of wheel throwing, glazing and firing techniques.
Concurrent with his ceramic practice, Rowley creates 2D artwork. Timber boards are soaked with washes of pigment before paint and oxides are applied, rubbed back, sanded and grinded multiple times, creating intriguing layers and surfaces.
Rowley’s work is in numerous private collections, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, Austria and Japan. Additionally, he is represented in more than a dozen public collections around Australia, has won over 20 awards and was awarded a Master of Arts (by research) from Monash University.
To see and hear Rowley speak about his creative practise, view this video here:
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
“The elemental nature of ceramics is what I most appreciate. It’s the art of earth, water and fire. Dealing in a fundamental way with these elements, as one does, for example, in a 3 to 5-day wood firing, has the potential to become an informative, sometimes humbling, experience. I also appreciate those people who buy art, who by placing a work in its final home, realise the full potential of each piece, and afford artists like myself to continue making.”
E D U C A T I O N
Master of Arts (by research), Monash University
Graduate Diploma of Arts, Monash University
S E L E C T E D E X H I B I T I O N S
2024
"Austral Mingei", Solo exhibition, Cooroy Butter Factory, QLD
2021
"Flame Path", Group Exhibition, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD
2020
"Extracts", Solo exhibition, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD
2019
drysdale juniper, Fox Galleries, Melbourne, Vic
"Plates Against the Wall", Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD
Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney, NSW
2018
Here Now, Quixotica Art Space, Cooroy, QLD
2017
‘Imperfect Beauty’, Art on Cairncross, Maleny, QLD
2016
Director’s Choice, Fox Galleries, Melbourne, Vic
2015
Mansfield Gallery, Sydney (solo), NSW
International Chawan Exhibition, Belgium
Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
Tong In Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Daegu Gallery, South Korea
2014
Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney (solo), NSW
International Chawan Exhibition, Singapore
Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
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, SA
Townsville Ceramics Award, QLD
Gympie Regional Gallery, QLD
2011
World Ceramic Biennial International Workshop Exhibition, South Korea
Skepsi Gallery, Melbourne, Vic
Mansfield Gallery, Gulgong, NSW
Ergon Energy Art Award, Rockhampton, QLD
’16 not out’, Art on Cairncross, Maleny, QLD
2010
Masterworks Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
Tamba Connection, Cooroy, QLD
Butter Factory, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Travelling Scholarship Exhibition, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Wood Firers, Gulgong, NSW
2009
Gallery Shu, Kyoto Japan (solo)
Maestro Gallery, Sydney, NSW
Floating Land, Noosa Regional Gallery, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Daegu, South Korea
2008
Freeland Gallery, Sydney (solo), NSW
The Gallery Eumundi, QLD (solo)
Kanayama International Wood Fire Festival, Japan
Salute - Australian Survey Exhibition, Fusions, QLD
Ergon Art Awards, Rockhampton, QLD
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, NSW
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 - Ceramic Arts Queensland Siliceous Award
2023 - Finalist - Sunshine Coast Art Price, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2023 - Finalist - Local Artist, Local Content, Caloundra Regional Gallery
2016 - Winner - Ceramic Arts Queensland Siliceous Award
2010 - Peter Voulkos Medal, Gulgong
2009 - Winner - Townsville Ceramic Art Scot Brickworks Award
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
2008 Kanayama International Wood firing Symposium, Honshu, Japan
2007 Australasian Museum of Ceramics, Shanxi, China
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
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.
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
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