KIRSTEN PERRY
Kirsten Perry imagines that her ceramic creations look like “some sort of living organism from a planet far away.” Organic in form, the sculptures resemble flowers, seedpods, waves, trophies, and delectable desserts made from Dippin’ Dots and marshmallows. Every piece starts with Perry, who is based in Melbourne, Australia, ruminating over an idea. “There is a technical problem-solving element that drives me forward, but when I am in the creative flow, it feels like I am tapping into some subconscious healing,” she says.
Once she has an idea, Perry sketches a bit before carving the form she wants to create out of foam or cardboard. Next, she pours liquid clay into a mold, using a technique called slip-casting. Finally, Perry glazes and fires the piece until it has the color and finishes desired. She relishes the imperfections inherent in the process. “I like to leave room in the process for mistakes and serendipity to take me to unexpected places. Otherwise, life would be too boring,” she says.
Citing Louise Bourgeois, Franz West, Isamu Noguchi, and JB Blunk as influences, Perry creates usable sculptures that are whimsical and elegant and serve a functional purpose.
AVAILABLE WORK
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EXHIBITS AND COLLECTIONS
2020 Bumpy Times, Michael Reid Gallery, Sydney
2019 Cut and Fold, Modern Times, Melbourne
2018 Strawberry and Banana, Pepite, Melbourne
2017 Rock, paper, scissors, C3 Gallery, Melbourne
2017 Local Tactility, Mō Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2017 Showcase, Shepparton Art Gallery, Shepparton
2016/17 Not Wow, Mr Kitly Gallery, Melbourne and Hotel Hotel, Canberra
2014 Bad Hair Day, Mr Kitly Gallery, Melbourne
2013 Ahhh, Craft Victoria Window, Melbourne
2012 Stevie Dreams, Lowrise Projects, Melbourne
2012 Home Time, Craft Victoria Gallery, Melbourne
2011 Uncanny Beigeness, C3 Gallery, Melbourne
2011 N-n-nervous, No No Gallery, Melbourne
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 Sculpture @ Shaw Exhibition, Finalist, Belco, ACT
2021 Wyndham Art Prize, Finalist, Wyndham Art Gallery, Melbourne
2021 Preliminary Structures, Melbourne Design Week, Melbourne
2021 Klytie Pate Ceramics Award, Winner, Mansfield, Victoria
2021 Stanthorpe Art Prize, Winner, Stanthorpe, Queensland
2020 Talismans, Rafts, Momentos, Modern Times, Melbourne
2020 Limited Edition, Slow Clay Centre, Melbourne
2020 Inside, Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2020 North Queensland Ceramic Awards Finalist, Townsville
2020 Tom Bass Sculpture Prize, Finalist, Sydney
2019 Art and Artefact, The Design Files, Melbourne
2018 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Finalist, Woollahra Municipal Council, NSW
2018 Northern Beaches Art Prize, Finalist, Sydney, NSW
2018 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize, Finalist, Broken Hill Art Gallery, NSW
2018 Wyndham Art Prize, Finalist, Wyndham Art Gallery, Victoria
2018 Feast Pay Love, Finalist, Narthex Gallery, Melbourne
2018 Klytie Pate ceramic award, Finalist, Mansfield, Victoria
2017 Design Files Open House, Collingwood, Victoria
2017 Georges River Art Award, Finalist, Hurstville Museum & Gallery, NSW
2017 Play Clay Play, Boom Gallery, Victoria
2017 Manningham Victorian Ceramic Art Award, Finalist, Manningham Gallery, Victoria
2017 Northern Beaches Art Prize 2017, Finalist, Sydney
2017 David Harold Tribe Sculpture Award, Finalist, The University of Sydney
2017 Victorian Craft Award, Finalist, Craft Victoria
2017 Gippsland Sculpture Prize, Finalist, Yinnar, Victoria
2017 Mansfield Art Glass incorporating Ceramics Exhibition, Finalist, Mansfield, Victoria
2016 Gold Coast City Gallery
2016 KAAF Art Prize, Finalist, Korean Cultural Centre, Sydney
2016 Contempottery, Mailbox Art Space, Melbourne
2016 30th Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award
2016, Finalist, Gold Coast City Gallery
2016 North Queensland Ceramic Awards, Finalist, Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville
2015 Victorian Craft Award, Finalist, Craft Victoria
2015 Manningham Victorian Ceramic Art Award, Finalist, Manningham Gallery, Victoria
2014 Craft Cubed, Boom Gallery, Geelong
2013 Supermarket, Craft Victoria, Melbourne
2012 I’m Revolting at Creatures of Comfort, Creatures of Comfort, Los Angeles, USA
2012 Potted, Mr Kitly Gallery, Brunswick, Melbourne
2011/2 Sculpture, Finalist, Toyota Community Spirit Gallery, Melbourne
2009 Repugnant Charm, Third Drawer Down, Fitzroy, Melbourne
2008 I Eat Memories, Bus Gallery, Melbourne with Clair Dougherty and Vittoria De Stefano
2007 The Phil Spectre Spectaculum, Blindside Gallery, Melbourne with Lisa Broomhead
2001/2 Oshima World Handmade Picture Book Contest, Finalist, Toyama, Japan
1999 I like Drawing, Cante Grand, Nakatsu, Japan
1999 25th Alice Craft Acquisition, Finalist, Crafts Council, Alice Springs
1998 New Jewellery from Australia, Galerie Ra, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1998 Graduate Metal, Long Gallery, Hobart
1997 City of Hobart Art Prize, Finalist, Carnegie Gallery, Hobart
1997 8th Biennial Craft Event, Finalist, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
AWARDS
2021 Klytie Pate Ceramics Award, Winner
2021 Stanthorpe Art Prize, 3D Cast Winner
2020 The Design Files Design Awards, Finalist
RESIDENCIES
2018 Sachaqa Centro De Arte, Peru
2018 Cotto Designs, Lima, Peru
2017 Anna Dorothea Klug Studio, Halle, Germany