An Artistic Journey From Glass to Clay
Arriving in New Zealand in the late eighties as a physiotherapist, Matakana artist Liz Sharek found her passion as a maker after participating in night courses at Auckland Studio Potters.
Following her newfound passion Liz attended Unitec, gaining a degree in Craft and Design, opening the door to the world of art for her. “I was very fortunate to be able to explore a massive range of mediums and techniques under the tutelage of leading New Zealand practitioners,” says Liz.
A glass casting class taught by Anne Robinson at the end of her first year marked the beginning of Liz’s love of glass; she was totally smitten. Upon completing her studies Liz took a year-long residency in the United Kingdom with renowned glass caster, Colin Ried.
For the next couple of decades, she continued to cast glass, it was the ‘new black’ in the art world and a very exciting time to be working in glass. Liz exhibited widely both nationally and overseas, with a couple of her pieces even making their way into the Te Papa Tongarewa Collection.
Upon moving to Matakana some 10 years ago, Liz pivoted to clay. Loving the immediacy and expressiveness of hand building with clay she discovered the big textures and glazes that are now her signature. She notes her work “develops through the process itself but handbuilding inevitably lends itself to an organic and natural vibe.”
Opportunities to exhibit came with the opening of The Vivian, a wonderful, innovative, supportive and vibrant hub for the art scene in Matakana which is now sorely missed. Liz had her first solo show, ‘Wild Things’, here in 2019 under the ownership and curatorial eye of Scott Lawrie. ‘Encrusted’, a solo show at Makers Gallery in Auckland followed in 2022.
Towards the end of last year Liz spent a month at Driving Creek Railway in Coromandel as part of their residency programme, providing her with a fabulous opportunity to immerse herself in the astonishing world of Barry Brickell, his legacy, wild clay and wood firing.
Liz has had her clay work accepted into a range of national competitions including The Waiheke Small Sculpture Prize which she won in 2016 and received the people's choice award for in 2023. She has also been given several opportunities to put work into the Portage Ceramic Awards, Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, Waiclay Ceramic Awards and UKU Clay HB Awards.
Meeting potters across the country as a tutor of short workshops within the blossoming clay diaspora around New Zealand is something Liz always enjoys. She continues to make work from her studio in Matakana for a number of galleries around the country and is represented locally at Artform Gallery.