Steph Wallace
Steph Wallace — 'Diggings' Sculptural Vessel, 2024
'Diggings' is sculptural form inspired by the historical gold diggings above which the artists studio is situated. Fusing traditional and non-traditional materials the artist seeks to investigate the contemporary and historical context of the landscape. This work is watertight and fit for functional use.
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Steph Wallace is a ceramic artist working on Waddawurrung country, Ballarat. Steph's practice challenges established norms by combining traditional techniques with experimental approaches. Her sculptural work is created in a monochromatic palette of black clay with fine inlaid linework. Alongside clays dug directly from the landscape she decorates her forms with layers of slips, oxides and glazes. Through Steph's work she weaves narratives that reflect the complexities of cultural identity and the legacies of colonialism on the contemporary landscape. Her work serves as a platform for dialogue, encouraging reflection and understanding of diverse histories.
Wallace has been the recipient of the Finalist National Emerging Art Prize 2023 Finalist Klytie Pate Ceramics Prize 2023 Solo Exhibition Art Gallery of Ballarat (upcoming April 2024) and attended Edinburgh College of Art (2002), Foundation Studies in Fine Art - Leeds Arty University (1999).
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Material: clay, stain, glazes , polymer compound, 12k gold lustre
Dimensions: approx. 40 x 24 x 24cm