Acknowledgement of Country

I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters upon which I live, work and create, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. I value their inherent, abiding connection to country and their cultural and artistic expression. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend this to all Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and First Nation peoples.

Ceramic blue bowl repaired with copper wire & found quartz + textile quilted discarded tea towel with local property guide. Collaboration with Jem Olsen speaking to societal shifts impacting sense of place, connection & self.

2024 Infuse Art Prize

7 - 22 December

Ross Creek Gallery

FINALIST

Textile artist Jem Olsen and I are delighted to announce that our collaborative work, Reclaimed, has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 Infuse Art Prize.

Reclaimed: Exploring Identity and Belonging

Below is a summarised artist statement, read the full artist statement here.

"Reclaimed is a collaborative piece that weaves ceramics and textiles to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the evolving meaning of "home" in a world shaped by financial pressures.

The ceramic component—a fractured bowl glazed in shades of blue—symbolises healing, resilience, and the reclamation of individuality. The textile element incorporates pieces from a local property guide and a discarded tea towel, highlighting the contrast between the comforts of a traditional home and its rising role as a financial asset.

Together, these elements invite viewers to reflect on how societal shifts impact our sense of place, connection, and self.”

six mugs/cups glazed in various Shino glazes & markings, no two are the same

ACOS 2024

A selection of my work will be available at two locations during the Australian Ceramics Open Studios on Sat 23rd & Sun 24th November, 10am - 4pm :

Ross Creek Gallery, 183 Post Office Road, Smythes Creek, Vic.

Pete Pilven’s studio, 829 Tress Street, Mt Pleasant, Vic.

Shino glazed cups individually marked - no two are the same. Only a few made this year.

Jan Alexander, large round, elevated stoneware bowl, hand formed, white glaze with blue markings Diam28 x H11 cm

Jan Alexander, large round, elevated stoneware bowl, hand formed, white glaze with blue design

Two tall round vessels, hand built/sculpted, feet, Shino glazes, high fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, wheel and hand built, sculpted rounded vessel with four feet. Blue gloss glaze mid fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, three conical vessels/vases, one large, two small, Shino glazes, high fired stoneware. Two small are Sold.

Jan Alexander, high sided sculpted bowl, with four feet, stoneware, blue gloss glazes. Sold.

Jan Alexander, hand built and painted bowl, white and pale blue, gloss glaze, mid fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, stoneware vase, sculpted and patterned, blue gloss glazes, mid fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, hand sculpted vessel, Shino glaze, high fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, vase/sculpture, hand manipulated stoneware, blue gloss glazes

Jan Alexander, three sculpted conical vessels/vases, Shino glazed, two dark/mirrored with copper tones, third orange clay tones, high fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, two rippled vases, ultramarine gloss glazes

Jan Alexander, hand formed vessel, Shino glazes

Jan Alexander, stoneware cups, no handles, recycled clay, multiple Shino glazes. Sold

Jan Alexander, hand formed stoneware vase, sculpted and patterned, blue gloss glazes, mid fired stoneware. Sold

Jan Alexander two tall hand built/sculpted vessels, Shino glaze, high fired stoneware

Jan Alexander, "homeless" stoneware vase, hand formed & patterned, blue gloss glazes

Alexander, Jan Two carved, squared vessels Shino glazes, one has carved arched feet and is Sold.

Jan Alexander, stoneware vases , sculpted and patterned, blue gloss glazes

Jan Alexander, small, thrown bowl, blue with white glaze, stoneware

Jan Alexander, small bowls, matching small cup: black/white; blue/white

Jan Alexander, two decorated, dark clay conical vessels, one with lid, stoneware

Jan is a Melbourne-born ceramic artist whose creative journey is deeply influenced by the history, philosophy, and aesthetics of East Asian ceramics dating from the 15th century.

In homage to this rich tradition, Jan's ceramics are characterised by rhythm and movement, creating a dynamic interaction between form and viewer. The interplay of shapes, lines, and textures within each piece invites observers into a world where aesthetics and history merge seamlessly.

Drawing inspiration from patterns influenced by both human activities and environmental forces, Jan is particularly intrigued by the concept of "the ripple effect." This notion, exploring the ongoing and spreading impact of events and actions, is a central theme in Jan's artistic enquiry.

In Ballarat, designated a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art (2019), Jan completed a Graduate Diploma of Ceramics under the guidance of accomplished mentors Peter Pilven and Koji Hoashi at Federation University, Australia.

Based in her home studio and at Federation University as an Alumni in Residence, Jan continues to explore the synergy of form, texture and glaze with hand built and wheel thrown works. Shino and gloss glazes hold a particular interest.

Image “Sapphire” SOLD

Brunswick Street Gallery

Store

L “Waves of silence” hand sculpted vessel, stoneware, cobalt glaze, H26 x W11 x D11 cm

R “Silent tides” hand sculpted vessel, stoneware, cobalt glaze, H23 x W10 x D10 cm

Mid fired stoneware, tall, hand built, ripple pattern/carved vessel x 2, squared base, green, blue, black glazes. Left is sold

Medium vessel, mid fire stoneware, black gloss + gold glazes. Sold

"Formation" lidded vessel, high fire reduction stoneware, Shino glazes

"Ambient" vessel series, mid fire stoneware gloss glazes. Sold

Tall carved, rippled vessels, mid fire stoneware, blue gloss glazes. Right is sold.

"Ambient" vessel series, mid fire stoneware gloss glazes

Vessel with lid, shino glazes white exterior + black interior, heavy reduction. Sold.

Round vessel, gloss glazes, mid fire stoneware. Federation University DVC Art Acquisition Award

Elevated bowl, white + oxides, stoneware mid fire. Sold.

Ripple dish with three feet, white gloss glaze with gold leaf, mid fire stoneware. NFS

Vessels, black gloss glaze, stoneware mid fire

Vessels, blue/green gloss glazes, mid fire stoneware. Sold

Vessels, blue + jade green gloss glaze, earthenware. NFS

The work alludes to Earth’s inherent temporary and permanent undulations created by the movement of wind, and or, water currents. These currents become visible within the ocean, across its surface, upon it’s floor; in cloud formations, geological structures and sand dunes - to name a few.

The patterns formed by these currents are mesmerising, distinguished by their own unique, rhythmic beauty of balance, uniformity of flow and the juxtaposition where ornamental repetition breaks, or simply falls away.

The forms are meant to be touched, to be held, and visually imply a subjective invitation for the mind to rest.