Gentle Hills

Sharon Taylor

I am a ceramic artist and have been practicing and exhibiting in the Newcastle/Hunter area for the last 14 years. I love to make pieces that can be put back into the landscape which has inspired them. Always looking at the plants and land formations around me, I strive to expose the hidden beauty in a captivating way.

My ceramic sculptures are inspired by the natural environment, the shapes, forms, colours and textures of the landscape. I enjoy working with clay because of its versatility and the tactile processes of forming and making the works.

As a ceramic artist, I hand build from any and all types of clay, often recycled mixtures with additions for texture.

I was born in Weston, NSW in 1966. We moved to Bolwarra Heights. In 1972 which at the time was a lovely bush suburb with paddocks, creeks, trees and bushlands to explore.

After a long career in retail and becoming a mum of 2, I started painting and art as a hobby. In 2006 I took a leap, Gained my HSC equivalent and made it into the Bachelor of Fine Art degree at the University of Newcastle where my fascination with all things clay and ceramics began.

I graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours (ceramics), in 2011. On completing my degree I was employed at the university of Newcastle as technical officer in the ceramics Studios (ending in 2019), where I was able to indulge and share my enthusiasm for working with clay with others whilst creating and practicing my skills.

I have since had experience in producing both functional and sculptural work for indoor and outdoor enjoyment, and have produced work on a commission basis for the university of Newcastle and many private collectors.

I am a member and tutor at the Newcastle Studio Potters workshop in Cooks Hill, where I share the pleasures of creating with clay through the workshop and gallery.

Spending my childhood exploring the bush and climbing trees instilled a fascination with the landscape and nature. I am currently a resident of lake Macquarie and find the lake, beaches and bushland areas constant inspiration for my artmaking practice. My ceramic sculptures are inspired by and reflect the forms, colours and textures of nature.

I enjoy working with clay because of its versatility and the tactile processes of forming and making the works. I love to make pieces that can be put back into the landscape which has inspired them. Always looking at the plants and land formations around me, I strive to expose the hidden beauty in a captivating way.

Recent Select Exhibitions/Experience

2023 The Muswellbrook Art Prize (finalist-ceramics) Muswellbrook Regional Art Gallery NSW
2023 Form, LEDA Gallery, Newcastle NSW
2023 Sculpture at the Gardens, Tea Gardens NSW
2022 Insideout and Upsidedown, Solo show - Straitjacket Gallery Broadmeadow NSW
2022 Decade, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle NSW
2021 Six-Reflections, Back to Back Galleries Newcastle NSW
2021 Painters Ink 21, Art Systems Wickham, NSW
2020 Reconnect-A Recovery Story, MAC Lake Macquarie NSW
2020 Shelf Life, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle NSW
2019-2021 Sculpture on the farm, Dungog NSW
2013-2022 Sculpture in the Vineyards, Wollombi NSW (2017 Emerging Artist Prize)
2019 From the land, Duck rabbit gallery Redfern NSW (presented by Gallery 139)
2019 Tabula Rasa, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle NSW
2016-2019 Inspired Hunter Valley Grammar School, Maitland NSW
2018 Sprung, Gallery 139, Hamilton NSW
2018 Memoranda the University of Newcastle Gallery NSW
2018 Between the lines, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle NSW
2017 Hill country, Acrux Gallery Hamilton NSW
2017 Artisans in the Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney NSW
2013-2016 Sculpture on the Greens, Kooinda Waters , Wyong NSW
2016 Beyond the Text, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle.
2014 The Bigger Picture, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle.
2014 Transformations the University Gallery, University of Newcastle, NSW
2011-2013 Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Annual Sculpture Prize, Heatherbrae, NSW
2012 Drawing from Experience, John Paynter Gallery, The Lock-up Cultural Centre, Newcastle.
2011 The Nature of Beauty / The Beauty of Nature, Back to Back Gallery, Newcastle
2011 Finalist (3D), Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle
2010 Artists and Spaces, Honours Exhibition, University Gallery, Newcastle.
2009-2010 Finalist, Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, NAS, Newcastle. (3D)
2009 Mistletoe Acquisitive Sculpture Prize, Watt space Gallery, Newcastle.

Collections

Winmark Winery – Broke NSW
Local Connections-Newcastle university campus
Mistletoe Winery Sculpture Garden, Pokolbin NSW
The University of Newcastle Art Collection

Residency

2017 Settlers cottage Undercliff Winery, Pokolbin NSW

Ceramic  Artist

Instagram: @sharontaylorceramics

I am a ceramic artist and have been practicing and exhibiting in the Newcastle area for the last 9 years. I graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours, in 2010.

Most of my ceramic sculptures are inspired by my natural environment, the shapes, forms, colours and textures of the Australian landscape. I enjoy working with clay because of its versatility and the tactile processes of forming and making the works. I love to make pieces that can be put back into the landscape which has inspired them. Always looking at the plants and land formations around me, I strive to expose the hidden beauty.

Select Exhibitions/Experience

• 2019 From the land, Duck rabbit gallery Redfern NSW (presented by Gallery 139)
• 2019 Tabula Rasa, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle NSW
• 2016-2019 Inspired Hunter Valley Grammar School, Maitland NSW
• 2018 Sculpture in the vineyards, Stonehurst Winery, Wollombi NSW
• 2018 Sprung, Gallery 139, Hamilton NSW
• 2018 Memoranda the University of Newcastle Gallery NSW
• 2018 Between the lines, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle NSW
• 2017 Hill country, Acrux Gallery Hamilton NSW
• 2017 Artisans in the Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney NSW
• 2017 Emerging Artist Prize, Sculpture in the vineyards, Wollombi NSW
• 2017 Artist in residence, Undercliff winery, Wollombi NSW
• 2016 Sculpture in the Vineyards Wollombi wine trail NSW
• 2016 Sculpture on the Greens, Kooinda Waters , Wyong NSW
• 2016 Beyond the Text, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle.
• 2015 Sculpture in the vineyards, Wollombi wine trail NSW
• 2015 Sculpture on the Greens, Kooinda Waters , Wyong NSW
• 2014 The Bigger Picture, Back to Back Galleries, Newcastle.
• 2014 Transformations The University Gallery, University of Newcastle, NSW
• 2014 Sculpture in the vineyards, Wollombi wine trail NSW
• 2013 Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Annual Sculpture Prize, Heatherbrae, NSW
• 2012 Sculpture in the vineyards, Wollombi wine trail NSW.
• 2012 Drawing from Experience, John Paynter Gallery, The Lock-up Cultural Centre, Newcastle.
• 2012 Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Annual Sculpture Prize, (second Prize) Heatherbrae, NSW
• 2011 The Nature of Beauty / The Beauty of Nature, Back to Back Gallery, Newcastle
• 2011 Finalist (3D), Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, Newcastle Art Space, Newcastle.
• 2011 Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Annual Sculpture Prize, Heatherbrae, NSW.
• 2010 Artists and Spaces, Honours Exhibition, University Gallery, Newcastle.
• 2010 Finalist, Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, NAS, Newcastle. (3D)
• 2009 Finalist, Newcastle Emerging Artist Prize, NAS, Newcastle. (3D)
• 2009  Mistletoe Acquisitive Sculpture Prize, Watt space Gallery, Newcastle.

Collections

Mistletoe Winery Sculpture Garden, Pokolbin NSW

The University of Newcastle Art Collection