Pop-up artist: Rowley Drysdale

Artist Statement

“The elemental nature of ceramics is what I most appreciate. It’s the art of earth, water and fire. Dealing in a fundamental way with these elements, as one does, for example, in a 3 to 5-day wood firing, has the potential to become an informative, sometimes humbling, experience. I also appreciate those people who buy art, who by placing a work in its final home, realise the full potential of each piece, and afford artists like myself to continue making.”

About

Rowley Drysdale is widely regarded as one of Australia’s foremost ceramic artists. Born in western Queensland in 1957, the Australian bush has remained a constant source of inspiration throughout his career. Since first working with clay at the age of twenty, Rowley has devoted decades to refining his techniques and developing distinctive glazes through dedicated and sustained practice.

Wood firing is central to Rowley’s ceramic process, and his deep knowledge of wood kilns has earned him national respect as a master wood firer. Few potters in Australia have fired wood kilns as extensively as Rowley. He is President of the Australian Wood Firers’ Union and has established strong professional relationships with leading international potters, particularly in South Korea, Japan and Finland.

Alongside his studio practice, Rowley has worked as a tertiary educator in visual arts for more than thirty years. His generosity in sharing knowledge—especially in wheel throwing, glazing and firing—has influenced generations of ceramic artists.

Concurrent with his ceramic practice, Rowley produces 2D artworks. Timber boards are soaked in pigment washes before layers of paint and oxides are applied, sanded, rubbed back and ground repeatedly, resulting in richly layered and tactile surfaces.

Rowley’s work is held in numerous private collections in Australia and internationally, as well as in more than a dozen public collections across Australia. He has received over twenty awards and holds a Master of Arts (by research) from Monash University.

Rowley Drysdale’s artisan pop‑up will run from 21 May to 28 June, presented alongside Caloundra Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, How Soon is Now by Bruce Reynolds. You can visit the pop-up during gallery open hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, weekends, 10am to 2pm. 

View the artists website to learn more about Rowley Drysdale.

Location	Date and time
Caloundra Regional Gallery	21 May to 28 June 2026