About

Jack Tilson is a ceramic artist living and working in New Lynn, Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, New Zealand

Artist Statement

My creative process begins on a pottery kick wheel. I carefully throw, turn, glaze, and fire each piece. I use a woodfired-kiln to fire my ceramics at cone ten (1280-1300 Celsius) in reduction. I use stoneware and porcelain clay to create functional, non-toxic and food safe ceramics. 

My journey in ceramics began at Otago Polytechnic where I pursued my undergraduate studies. Later, I earned an MFA in fine arts with first-class honours from the Elam School of Fine Art at the University of Auckland. My research focused on ceramic glazes and utilized optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging systems to study nano-microstructures. 

I have exhibited my work across New Zealand and display my current pieces in my studio gallery. I am the director of the Wood Fired Pottery School which I co-founded in 2022.  I teach the processes involved in making ceramics with a focus on pottery wheel technique and wood fired kiln technology. I enjoy writing about ceramics and have recently written articles for Ceramics New Zealand.

Selected Exhbition History 

2023

Clay + Ash + Water, Waikato Museum, Hamilton (group)

2019

Uku Moemoeā: Clay Dreams, Nathan Homestead, Manurewa (group)
Alternative Clay Learning Space, Mairangi Art Centre, Auckland (group)


2018

Emerging Practioner in Clay, Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics, Whanganui (group)
Experiences of Clay, Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland (solo)

2017

Potter in Residence, Dunedin School of Art, Dunedin, (solo)
Chill Out Brain, Mairangi Art Centre, Auckland (group)

2016

A Transforming Display, Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland, (solo)
Beauty is in the Street, Object Space, Auckland (group)

2015 

Malleable Histories, Elam Graduate Presentation, MFA program, Auckland (solo)

2013

CafespaceB431, Elam Project Space, University of Auckland, (group)
Staring out the window, Elam Graduate Show, BFA program, Auckland (solo)