News - Canberra Potters

Dr Cathy Franzi Inducted into the IAC

Canberra Potters warmly congratulates Honorary Life Member and valued teacher Dr Cathy Franzi on her induction into the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) in October 2025 — a prestigious honour recognising her outstanding contribution to the ceramic arts and connecting her with a global network of leading ceramic professionals. Cathy joins a cohort of 246 IAC members from 59 countries who work together to foster international collaboration, promote ceramics worldwide, and uphold the highest standards of creative and technical excellence.

Dr Cathy Franzi is an established Canberra-based ceramic artist whose work explores the relationship between nature, science, and culture, informed by her background in botanical research and fieldwork. Working primarily in porcelain and drawing inspiration from printmaking techniques, she creates dynamic forms and textured surfaces that capture the distinctive beauty and character of Australian flora.

Find out more here

Image: Ivy Goodenia, dimension : 12H x 25W x 11D cm, medium : Midfire clay, technique : Wheel-thrown and altered, hand-drawn stencils, date : 2023; ©Cathy Franzi

Applications are now open!

The Canberra Potters annual Members Exhibition is a highlight of our exhibition calendar, featuring some of the best work created by our members during the last twelve months. More information about the exhibition here.

Each year, a range of prizes are awarded thanks to the generous support of the Canberra Potters Society Board and our wonderful sponsors and partners.

2025 Awards include:

Best Overall: Doug Alexander Memorial Award ($5,000 cash prize sponsored by Canberra Potters)

Professional Development Award (mentorship with highly respected artist and teacher Janet DeBoos)

The Craft + Design Canberra National Emerging Contemporaries Award (an exhibition opportunity as part of the 2026 Emerging Contemporaries exhibition at Craft + Design Canberra)

Brian Privett Award for Surface Decoration ($350 gift voucher from Walker Ceramics)

Cesco Award for Wheelthrowing ($350 gift voucher from Walker Ceramics)

Keane Ceramics Award for Handbuilding ($350 gift voucher from Keane Ceramics)

Keane Ceramics Emerging Artist Award ($350 gift voucher from Keane Ceramics)

Northcote Sculpture Award ($350 gift voucher from Northcote Pottery Supplies)

The Australian Ceramics Association Merit Award (1 year TACA membership)

The Australian Ceramics Association Emerging Merit Award (1 year TACA membership)

People’s Choice Award ($250 gift voucher from The Curatoreum)

Applications closed 11:59pm Sunday 26 October 2025.

A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors and partners for making these awards possible!

Walker Ceramics

Keane Ceramics

Northcote Pottery Supplies

The Australian Ceramics Association

Craft & Design Canberra

The Curatoreum

Masaru Nishikawa: The breath of animals

動物の呼吸

25 SEPTEMBER – 2 NOVEMBER 2025

Opening Event: 6pm Thursday 25 September 2025

Based in Kyoto, Masaru Nishikawa is one of Japan’s most renowned and exhibited ceramicists. Known for his imaginative animal forms, Nishikawa uses colour and hand-building techniques to create expressive and often humorous works.

In his first solo exhibition in Australia, Nishikawa presents new works created during his 2025 artist residency at Canberra Potters, alongside recent works created in Japan. The exhibition introduces Australian audiences to the poetic and playful works for which Nishikawa is recognised and widely collected in Japan.

Nishikawa says of the exhibition:

“I have been making works inspired by real and imagined animals for close to 40 years. For me animals are endlessly interesting and fun. When we observe animals closely and realistically, they are sometimes raw, sometimes grotesque, and sometimes frightening. I deliberately place myself at a distance, and try to depict animal forms playfully, in ways that bring out their humour. I hope that I’ve created this kind of atmosphere with the works in this exhibition.”

動物をイメージした作品を40年近く制作しています。

動物は、私にとってとても興味深く、楽しいものです。

動物を写実的にじっと観察していると、時々生なましく、グロテスクで、怖く感じる事があります。

私は、意図的にあえて動物と距離を置き、楽しくユーモアを感じられるように作りたいと心がけています。

そんな空気感のある動物作品が出来ればと願っています。

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Masaru Nishikawa (b. 1962 ) received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramics) from Musashino Art University, Tokyo in 1987. He has been an adjunct lecturer at Osaka Fine Arts University in the Ceramics program since 2009. He is a multiple-time recipient of some of Japan’s most distinguished prizes for ceramics; most recently he received the Grand Prize at the NITTEN Exhibition (National Fine Art Exhibition) in 2025. Nishikawa’s work has been exhibited extensively in Japan and internationally and is a part of the permanent collections of the Kyoto Prefectural Institute, Library and Archives; Incheon World Ceramic Center, Korea; Maibara City, Japan; Welfare Center (Cen-Terrace), Osaka University, Japan; Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto; and the Shanghai Art Collection Museum.

Masaru Nishikawa was the Canberra Potters International Artist in Residence from 5 August – 2 November 2025.

In the news: “Japanese ceramicist’s passion for real and imagined animals”

Connecting Through Clay: 50 Years of Canberra Potters

28 AUGUST 2025 – 21 SEPTEMBER 2025

An exhibition celebrating the remarkable milestone of 50 years of Canberra Potters as a vital part of the ACT’s creative community since 1975. Connecting Through Clay reflects on the rich legacy, artistic excellence, and evolving story of Canberra Potters through a curated exhibition featuring works from the Canberra Potters Collection alongside pieces by Honorary Life Members.

This celebratory showcase not only highlights the artistic diversity and depth of the Canberra Potters Permanent Collection but also pays tribute to the dedicated individuals – some of whom have been with us since our founding in 1975 – who have shaped and supported Canberra Potters.

Central to this journey is our Artist-in-Residence Program, which has been instrumental in cultivating artistic exchange, enriching our collection, and building our national and international reputation.

Over five decades, we’ve grown from modest beginnings into a thriving institution grounded in creativity, community and craftmanship. This exhibition is both a recognition of shared history and a celebration of the people and practices that have shaped who we are today.

Featuring Honorary Life Members:

Featuring works by 40 artists from the Canberra Potters Permanent Collection including:

Maryke Henderson, Dialogue 2005, 53 x 42 x 19cm, soda vapour glazed stoneware. Photo by Stuart Hay, ANU Photograph

Term 4 Class Enrolments Open

Secure your spot for our Term 4 Classes. Whether you’re a returning student or know someone who wants to try their hand, book now as classes fill quickly!

Children’s and Introductory classes released 8am Thursday 28 August

Foundation and Continuing classes released 8am Friday 29 August

We look forward to seeing you in Term 4!

BOOK A CLASS

Cathy Franzi wins 2025 Lanyon Art Prize

Cathy Franzi, ceramic artist and teacher at Canberra Potters’ Society and Honorary Life Member, has won this year’s $10,000 Lanyon Art Prize for her nine porcelain vessels titledFine Open Grasslands. The work depicts Natural Temperate Grassland species, an ecosystem of grasses, herbs and orchids present before colonial settlement and is displayed in the dining room, alongside Lanyon’s nineteenth century European floral ornaments.

The exhibition is on until 2 November at Lanyon Historic Homestead, Wed-Sun 11am-4pm (free entry 10am-11am).