top of page

ROWLEY DRYSDALE - Ceramic & Mixed Media Artist

Rowley w ware board 1_edited.jpg

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.

​

To see and hear Rowley speak about his creative practise, view this video here:

​

​

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

 

​

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

​

2020

"Extracts", Solo exhibition, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD

​

2019

drysdale juniper, Fox Galleries, Melbourne

"Plates Against the Wall", Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD

Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney

​

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

​

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

bottom of page