After a hand-building workshop with Polly, Suze Platten has been making some amazing pieces and creatures that she nicknames “Suze’s madness”. We look forward to seeing your work in the exhibition. Congratulations Suze – we look forward to opening the kiln to more of Suze's Madness in the future!

28 AUGUST to 15 NOVEMBER 2026 Celebrate 50 years of creativity at Lysnar House Studios, Gisborne’s cherished artistic hub since 1976. To mark this milestone anniversary, the Gisborne Pottery Group, Gisborne Artists’ Society, and Gisborne Camera Club present a special combined exhibition at Tairāwhiti Museum. 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Lysnar House Studios, a much-loved creative hub in Gisborne, New Zealand, that has supported and inspired local artists since opening i

Serena Scrivens produces delicate, detailed works with a whimsical aesthetic, earning her our Potter of the Month award. Congratulations Serena, we love your work.

Maddy Harty is our 4th ‘Potter of the month’ for 2026. Maddy is a new potter who creates ceramics that are a lot of fun, thoughtfully made and beautifully glazed. Congratulations on your first firing Maddy!

Laura Skeaff is our 3rd ‘Potter of the month’ for 2026. Laura creates beautiful vessels that are both strong and delicate, providing the perfect backdrop for her subtle organic glazes, including the Terracolor Blue Marble glaze, as well as her striking use of marbled black-and-white clay in the pieces shown above. Laura is a much-valued member of the club and a very deserving recipient of Potter of the Month. Congratulations Laura!

The Gisborne Pottery Group received Creative Communities funding for Whenua to Fire , a project exploring indigenous making and firing techniques. The grant primarily covered tutor fees for our renowned and much-loved clay master, Baye Riddell, while the Korean Beach Firing workshop also included learning, making, firing, clay, and kai. On the day, perfect weather allowed for an early beach start at 9.30am. A small fire was built to heat the sand and pots arranged around it.

Morgane is a truly valued member of the club and very deserving of Potter of the Month. She is always happy to lend a hand behind the scenes, quietly managing our reclaimed clay supply and ensuring material is ready for everyone to use. She is well known for her adorable tiny creations, which began as a growing army of bunnies and have expanded into a range of charming creatures that bring joy around the club. Originally from France and often found sailing on the local waka,

With over 35 years of experience, John Gisborne is a passionate potter whose sought-after creations are admired in Aotearoa and worldwide. He honed his skills working with industry greats like Allan Vickers in Mt Maunganui and Barry Brickell in Coromandel, and further developed his craft during a two-year stint at Glasgow Ceramics in Scotland. John is also a valued teacher, generously sharing his extensive knowledge. Not your typical wheel workshop John demonstrated different

Ollie Clark – our first Potter of the Month for 2026