Contemporary Ceramics
The ceramics studio practice of Peter Biddulph. Peter is the recipient of several awards internationally for his ceramics including one for a tripod sake set in the 9th International Ceramics Festival, Mino, Japan in 2011. The same year he was invited to exhibit in the London Design Festival and in exhibitions in Spain, Japan and Australia. He has had articles and images of work published in ceramics journals in the UK, the US, India, Canada, Iran and Australia. A selection of sculpture was published in the book Porcelain by Vivienne Foley in November 2014. This site www.ceramicdesign.org has been online continuously since 2006.
This is the most recent iteration of the site, completely redeveloped for 2026. Access the collection via the links on this page or via the menu.
Mesh Solo Exhibition 2026
Mesh presents two contrasting series of works; a collection of hand built geometric sculptural vessels constructed from slabs of a coarse white stoneware clay fired in oxidation, and a collection of shino glazed or unglazed wheel thrown vessels using iron-rich clays and fired in strong reduction. Some of the works are deeply textured or have multiple layers of glaze.
The word Mesh is used to describe an object created in a digital space. It consists of single points (vertices), lines (edges) and faces (polygons). This process of handbuilding reminded me of earlier works I had created digitally (See Menu > Collections > Parametric Design).
Ceramics and Steel : : In Sync 2025
A solo exhibition of works in porcelain and stoneware and for the first time works in Corten steel, sometimes in combination with ceramics.
On the BEAM Solo Exhibition 2024
On the BEAM showcases the broad range of forms and surface textures which may be achieved on the wheel, sometimes incorporating hand building techniques - Comsat, for example, consists of two halves joined together at a later stage. The exhibition features works created using a sandy stoneware clay or fine white porcelain with some new, original glazes. All works were high fired to 1280°C.
Fluid Solo Exhibition 2023
Fluid presents a development of forms thrown on the wheel then altered while still in a very plastic state. The exhibition features wheel thrown, hand built and slip cast works created using coarse dark stoneware clays or fine white porcelain.
Surface treatments of brush work, engobe and glaze layering, body fluxing and carbon trapping are integrated with the form to create an integral whole. The series Sea of Clouds utilises the fluidity of both form and glaze to create an impression of sky viewed from above the cloud cover.
The works made of coarse iron-rich clays were gas reduction fired to achieve the various surface finishes. While they may be enjoyed purely as sculpture, all works were high fired to 1280°C - 1300°C and are thus functional and watertight.
Drift Solo Exhibition 2022
The exhibition Drift features a new collection of porcelain and coarse black stoneware.
In this work I have further explored form using some experimental techniques to discover what may be possible during and post construction.
The collection features a variety of surfaces, some iridescent, some deeply textured, achieved through experimentation with new techniques and surface finishes, and introduces some recently developed matte macro crystalline glazes.
All work is high fired and thus watertight.
Flow Solo Exhibition 2021
The exhibition Flow presents a development of forms thrown on the wheel then altered as the porcelain is still in a very plastic state. The form of a trumpet is altered to create two or three lobes reminiscent of the shape of a flower or leaf.
The exhibition also features hand built vessels, Iceberg, carved from solid blocks of porcelain. These works consist of deeply textured surfaces and forms often with a spiral twist. They were gas reduction fired to achieve this ice blue qingbai glaze. All works were high fired to 1280°C - 1300°C and are thus watertight.
Wind on Water Solo Exhibition 2020
The exhibition Wind on Water featured new porcelains and unglazed black and custom blended stoneware vessels with deeply textured surfaces, which appear to have been formed through meteorological, seismological or other natural processes. In this body of work I have endeavoured to emulate not only the appearance of natural formations, but also through several experimental ceramic processes, the ways in which the forces of energy on matter create such surfaces; hence the title Wind on Water. The roughly textured surfaces are achieved through cutting and stretching the clay or applying slip prior to or during the throwing on the wheel. The work is complete once the wheel has stopped; there is no carving or other manipulation of the surface after the work has been thrown. Thus the surface texture develops as part of the throwing process.
All works are high fired to 1300°C, which makes them watertight and thus suitable for holding liquids.
Surface to Air Solo Exhibition 2019
This exhibition featured new works in porcelain glazed with an Aurora blue matte crystalline glaze or a teal glaze.
Wheel Thrown
The wheel thrown works are created from one piece of porcelain. Many of the vessels are double walled while some are closed forms with the opening cut out before drying.
Porcelain with Aurora Glaze
Aurora Glaze
The glaze is a satin matte crystalline glaze pooling in the base to a black glass in which green, blue and violet crystals grow as the glass is molten during the firing. The walls are a pale turquoise with a subtle sparkling silver sheen and violet and azure crystals. The colour of the glaze is quite variable sometimes exhibiting blue, green, purple and ochre tones depending on the thickness of application, the shape of the form and the firing conditions, as can be seen on these pieces.
Porcelain with Teal Glaze
The teal glaze is a high gloss, blue green glaze fired to 1300°C. The glaze exhibits exceptional tonal variation appearing pale on areas of relief and pooling in the hollows to create a deeper tone. The glaze clearly delineates even very fine relief of 1mm or less. I have created a number of works with textured surfaces to utilise this tonal effect.
Moreton Bay Region Art Awards 2019
Winner for category 3D Works
Judge's comments:
"The two pieces that comprise this work are technically exquisite. They are poised and elegant, their forms strike a perfect balance between function and abstraction."
Double Walled Vessels
The vessels were thrown from one piece of clay. The exterior is unglazed and the variation in colour results from firing in reduction in a gas kiln. Vessel 4 (on the right) shows the strongest reduction and is the darkest.The interior is glazed so the pieces hold water. While they may be enjoyed purely as sculptural objects, they can be used as vases.
Ikebana Vases
Many of the vessels featured on this site lend themselves well for use with a form of Japanese flower arranging known as ikebana. This deeply textured spherical vase has been selected by an ikebana teacher to harmonise with the natural elements of the arrangement. In this example the colour and texture of the driftwood complement the texture and glaze of the vessel.
Mesa Series
Acquired for Permanent Collection of Art
A selection of the Mesa Bowls and Cups together with the Hybrid Flasks and Cups were acquired by Townsville City Council in May 2016 for its permanent collection of art. Details and images of this work are in the catalogue of the 2016 North Queensland Ceramic Awards.
The Mesa Bowls and Cups were also selected for exhibition as part of the Mayo Festival in May 2016. View the full catalogue of the Mayo Festival. My work is on page 31.
Tsuki-yo Glazed Works
Tsuki-yo is a series of tableware made of translucent Southern Ice porcelain begun in 2014. The porcelain is thrown or cast very finely and fired to 1280°C in oxidation.
月夜 tsuki-yo Glaze - Moonlit Night
The colour was inspired by a blue/black ink named 'tsuki-yo'. The glaze is a high gloss mirror black which often forms a transparent pale blue halo on the rim revealing the whiteness of the Southern Ice porcelain beneath. In bright light a brilliant azure blue appears in the depths of the black glaze.
'Best of Show' Award
April 2013: Winner ’Best of Show’ award in The Rotary Art Spectacular, The Riverside Centre, Brisbane.
"It is rare that a small sake set can wrestle attention away from some 460 pieces of art, but Peter Biddulph’s perfectly formed work did just that at this year’s Rotary Art Spectacular."
The judges for the 2013 Spectacular were Helen Grant (Editor, Australian Artist Magazine), Maureen Hansen (Professional Artist/Curator & Director, Wesley Hospital Collection), and Michael Wardel (Coordinator, Logan Art Gallery).
Dark Matter
Dark Matter is a series of individually thrown and altered vessels begun in 2014. The vessels have had a number of layers of different clay slips mixed with oxides applied at both pre and post bisque. They are burnished at all stages in the ceramic process to produce this quality of surface, which appears worn and eroded and with a soft metallic sheen. The surface emulates the patina that develops over time through exposure to the elements of ancient bronzes and much larger vessels such as the hulls of ships.
Carbon Trap Shino Glazed Porcelain
The shino cup Orbit is from a sake set created in 2012. It consists of a flask, Arc, and three cups, Orbit, Wave and Cone. The cups are 5.5cm high and 8cm in diameter. The walls are approximately 2mm thick. The pieces are light and translucent, yet have the strength and durability afforded by this fine world-class porcelain.
Rapid Prototyping and 3D Printing
The shino cup Orbit and the flask Hybrid 1 were first created in 3D modelling software prior to rendering using rapid prototyping technology. The cup is slip cast using Southern Ice porcelain, glazed with carbon trap shino and fired to 1280°C in reduction in a gas kiln..
Porcelain Sake Set 2012
Since 2008 Peter has been using Southern Ice porcelain for its qualities of translucency and whiteness in the construction of vessels for serving sake 'tokkuri' and for drinking sake 'guinomi'. This translucent Southern Ice porcelain sake set created in 2012 consists of a flask, Arc, and three cups, Orbit, Wave and Cone. They are slip cast and glazed with ice blue Qingbai or other tinted transparent glazes. The exterior surface is unglazed and hand polished to create a smooth tactile surface with a slight sheen. The set is also available in a dark metallic tenmoku glaze.
Tripod Guinomi 2011
This Tripod Sake Set is based on the form of the tripod. The Southern Ice porcelain is sometimes mixed with oxides to create an organic, textured surface.
Created using 3D digital modelling and rapid prototyping the Tripod sake set received an award in the prestigious 9th International Competition of Ceramics Mino, Japan in 2011. The works were also selected for exhibition in the London Design Festival and for the 10th International Biennial Of Ceramics Manises, Spain in the same year.
Biomimesis 2009
Biomimesis, an installation of slip cast porcelain sculptures, was selected for inclusion in an exhibition entitled White at the State Library of Queensland in 2010. The exhibition was organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Artisan Gallery and featured work in porcelain by artists from Australia and Lombardy, Italy. In February 2014 Biomimesis was selected for the 44th Annual UWW Ceramics Exhibition: Contemporary Artists Mixing Old and New Technologies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, USA.
Publications
Biomimesis is featured in the book Porcelain by Vivienne Foley published in the US and UK in 2014.
vol_Luminous 2006
This installation of wheel-thrown ceramic sculptures illuminated with fibre optic cables and LEDs received an award of merit from the Design Institute of Australia in the Queensland Design Awards and was exhibited in Design Excellence in Queensland at the Queensland Art Gallery in June 2006.
Publications
vol_Luminous is featured in the book Porcelain by Vivienne Foley published in the US and UK in 2014.
A full feature article on vol_Luminous was published in The International Magazine of Ceramic Art and Craft, Ceramic Review (link opens in a new window), in the May/June 2008 edition.
Construction
For details of how these pieces were constructed see the construction page.
Light
Light is an essential element in the manifestation of form. A single source of light from the viewpoint of the observer may flatten form, while multiple sources of light from different angles clarify the substance of an object.
Porcelain is translucent, which lends itself well to the interplay of light. I have utilised LEDs and fibre optic cables to illuminate the interiors of forms or to create objects which emit light as in the 'vol_Luminous' series. The 2016 exhibition 'In Lightfall' showcased a number of recently developed glazes which change colour depending on the source of light.
Spherical Vessels
A large collection of spherical vessels created over two decades exhibiting a very diverse range of clay bodies, firing methods, forms, surfaces, and textures.
Slip Casting
The source forms of some of the works in porcelain are created using digital technologies of 3D modelling and rapid prototyping followed by slip casting. For further information please see the slip casting page.
Porcelain
The Southern Ice porcelain page has more images and further information on the nature, origins and qualities of porcelain, including Southern Ice porcelain.
Glaze Development
A ceramicist in the 21st century is fortunate in that the entire landscape of material science painstakingly mapped out through centuries of experimentation may be surveyed. Empirical research into the infinite combinations of materials and their fusion in the furnace of the kiln conducted over centuries in China, Korea, Japan and elsewhere has resulted in the rich literature on glazes, glazing and firing techniques. The contemporary ceramicist may research this literature and utilize information on new materials and techniques, unavailable to earlier ceramicists, to create novel surfaces and textures.
The glazes on these works are the result of this research and extensive experimentation. Examples of the iridescent crystalline glaze pictured here can be see on the Cone Cups page.
3D Modelling and Rapid Prototyping
In 2007 I began to to create 3 dimensional forms in 3D modelling software to achieve the precise geometric yet organic forms I sought. I researched rapid prototyping to realise the forms I had generated and experimented with different rapid prototyping technologies to produce the following series of works in translucent Southern Ice porcelain.
Biomimesis - 5 Sculptural Forms
Flask and Cups based on the form of a tripod
Flask Arc and Cups Wave, Cone and Orbit
Hybrid Flasks and Cups
Tuition and Classes
Peter is currently teaching ceramics in Brisbane and may be contacted at ceramicdesign.org/contact
Peter maintains a collection of his own and other artists' work at pinterest.com/ceramicon to serve as an educational resource of techniques and styles in international and mainly contemporary ceramics.
Web Design and Development
I am available for commissions and would be happy to discuss your requirements. Please see the web design page:
ceramicdesign.org/web-design
Photography
I am available for commissions and would be happy to discuss your requirements. Please see the photography page:
ceramicdesign.org/photography
Commissions
If there is a piece you would like that has been sold please contact me and I will get back to you with a quote and a completion date.
