Shannon Garson began her career as a painter in 1985, completing a Bachelor of Visual Art from Queensland University of Technology in 1993. After graduating Shannon began decorating for innovative Brisbane Gallery Amfora. From this her interest extended to throwing and decorating her own vessels, incorporating her skills as a visual aritist into the work.
Shannon explored the artistic history of Europe and travelled through France, Spain and Italy for 2 years developing her skills. In 2003 Shannon won the prestigious Josephine Ulrick Award for Excellence in the Gold Coast International Ceramic Awards.
In 2004 Shannon won a prize at the Stanthorpe Arts Festival which has led to her work being acquired by the Stanthorpe Regional Gallery for their permanent collection, she has also been awarded 2nd prize in the Red Cross Ceramic Award. Her expertise as a porcelain artist has most recently been recognised with the award of a Churchill Fellowship in 2005. Shannon has just completed a major new body of work based on the magnolia tree with the assistance of an Australia Council New Works Grant.
In addition to her porcelain design Shannon regularly contributes articles to journals and magazines including Pottery in Australia, Ceramics Art and Perception and Craft Arts International. Her work has been profiled in lifestyle magazines Country Style and Inside Out.
Shannon has been exhibiting since 1990 and now shows her porcelain design throughout Australia and internationally. Her work is regularly picked up by new galleries, for a list of stockists please go to the Links Page.
Shannon Garson Resume
E D U C A T I O N A L H I S T O R Y
1990 - 93 Bachelor of Visual Arts, Queensland University of Technology
Major: Painting
Second major: Literature
S E L E C T E D E X H I B I T I O N S
2000-Porcelain Tattoo Queensland Craft Council Brunswick St, Brisbane
2001-Cheer Queensland Craft Council Brunswick St, Brisbane
2002-The Paddock Craft Queensland Brunswick St, Brisbane
2003- Gold Coast International Ceramic Award. Gold Coast City Gallery, Surfers Paradise
2004-Still-Life in Porcelain Salmon Galleries, McMahon’s Point, Sydney
The Bowl’d and the Beautiful Ceramic Art Gallery, Paddington, Sydney
2004-Beaver Galleries Christmas Show , Beaver Galleries, Canberra
2005-- Surrounds Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, Brisbane
2006- Botanica, Craft Queensland, Brisbane
Delightful Things- Umbrella Collective inaugral event, Brisbane
2008- The Magnolia Project, Salmon Galleries, Sydney
The 8th international Mino Ceramics Award- Mino, Japan
2009- Ceramic Journeys- Group exhibition , Fusions, Brisbane
Pourers- Group exhibition, Object Sydney
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2003
Josephine Ulrick Award for Excellence in Ceramics
Received at the Gold Coast International Ceramic Awards. Winning pieces from this award are now in the Gold Coast City Art Gallery collection.
2004
Stanthorpe Arts Festival Acquisitional Prize
“Fennel Bowl” is part of the Stanthorpe Regional Gallery permanent collection.
Red Cross Ceramic Prize
2nd Prize in annual Red Cross Ceramic Prize
2005
Churchill Fellowship-
Received $20 000 to travel to France and Italy and study the great ceramic collections of these countries and undertake a 4 week residency at Dartington Pottery in Devon, UK.
2006
NAVA New Work Grant
Received $20 000 To explore a body of work using thrown, altered porcelain forms and sepia drawing.
2007
Space Furniture New Design Award- Received for “Nests- Series 1”
2008
ANU (Australian National University) Award
Ignition Ceramic Prize
Home Beautiful Product of the Year Award- For the “Magnolia Project”
2009
Arts Queensland
$40000 for a collaboration with jeweller Rebecca Ward to create a body of work for a national touring exhibition inspired by the flora of the wallum (coastal wetlands)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Pottery in Australia, vol 39 ,2000
Country Style, Feb- March 2002
Inside Out, Feb 2003
Ceramics Art and Perception, Vol 54, 2003/4
Craft Arts International, March 2004
Australian Journal of Ceramics, March 2005
Queensland Homes, October 2009
Salt Magazine, Autumn 2010
SELECTED EXPERIENCE
2002
National Ceramic Conference, Bendigo, Australia. Presented a paper “Home-Cooking - A Case for Handmade Tableware”
2003
Gandhi School, Korea, travelling classroom. Throwing and decorating workshop
2003
Burnett Potter’s Society, Ayr Queensland. Decoration workshop
2004
Radio National, Australia- Spoke on “The Comfort Zone” about the relevance of handmade ceramics in contemporary life.
2006
National Ceramics Conference, Brisbane. Presented paper on contemporary approaches to decoration
2009
Australian Ceramic Triennale
Creator and Adminstrator of the Triennale blog
Presented paper on the value of the internet for artisst
A panellist on a the Ceramics Education panel.