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Georgia Harvey studied painting at RMIT long before she discovered her love of ceramics.
‘My process had become to build up surfaces, then cover it all with more paint, then sand it back so the forms underneath would be partially revealed. I think I was really a latent ceramicist already at that point, looking for a kiln to sublimate things in!’ Georgia says.
The prolific creative later completed a Masters in Cultural Materials Conservation, and went to work as an objects conservator at the NGV. It was during this time studying ceramics from around the world, that she became interested in the idea of doing something with clay herself.
‘I got a studio nearby – I had young kids at the time, so I would wait until they were tucked into bed then I’d head down to the studio at night and spend hours mucking around. I had one bag of clay and at the end of the night I’d just punch whatever I’d made back down into the bag and start again the following night.’
These days though, Georgia works from her ‘dream shed’ studio in the backyard of her family home in Footscray, which she calls her ‘5 x 3 m chunk of paradise!’
In her own words, Georgia’s distinct, imperfect style walks the line between ‘not too cute and not too hideous but perhaps inhabiting a slightly unsettling space in between’. She finds inspiration everywhere – from landscapes, buildings, critters, and artefacts, to kids’ artworks, jewellery, masks and plants.
‘I keep returning to [creating] animals, or forms that suggest animals. I’m endlessly inspired by ancient depictions of animals, like askoi and rhyta, ritual animal-shaped vessels. I love the idea of ritual objects, or of ritual at all.’
Georgia’s detailed, hollow ceramics can take anywhere from a few hours to more than several days to create, and she often plays around with various glazing techniques. But all her pieces offer the same playful quality, imbued with their own unique personality and character!
You can learn more about Georgia here.
