Matt Butterworth

Matt Butterworth is a contemporary Australian artist who celebrates form, colour and texture through the making of his ceramic works: "I am interested in the conflict that arises when a wall is created. My artworks (ceramic) begin with a process. I begin by throwing (on the wheel) a white porcelain vessel. I then challenge/alter this by adding coloured clays, cutting/exposing the internal form, glazing (in different stages) then finally applying and firing gold lustre. I work intuitively, taking the original narrative (one steeped in a rich history) and expose it. I want my works to challenge the very idea of a vessel while remaining faithful to its creation. I want to challenge the boundaries of ceramics and expose the limitations and expectations." Matt Butterworth’s porcelain bowls represent a radicalised interpretation of the traditional ceramic vessel. Perfectly functional golden ceramic bodies are dissected with cuts and tears, and yet they are so resolved and so exquisite. Small in scale, these bowl forms become jewels, glittering in the sun. They tell stories, they are strong, fresh and live in the present. In 2019, Matt was awarded the prestigious Manningham Victorian Ceramic Art Award, and in 2021 was acquired by Power House Museum, who exhibited his ceramics in 'Clay Dynasty: 50 Years Of Australian Ceramics'.