Meet the maker

Hello, and thanks for being here.

I’m Shannon Courtenay, a ceramic artist living and working in the Cardrona Valley, Aotearoa. I design and make everything from this place surrounded by mountains and stillness.

My practice moves between everyday tableware and conceptual sculpture, but at the heart of it all is a deep respect for texture, for time, and for the quiet satisfaction of things made slowly.

I studied Fine Arts at Elam and while I sometimes work in other mediums, I have always returned to clay for its grounded-ness, unpredictability, and strength. Alongside my studio work, I host seasonal workshops and gatherings that connect people to creativity, food, and land. Some of these take place here on Kind Farm, an animal sanctuary I’m blessed to be a part of.

I’m continually inspired by the land, the objects we use every day, and the tension between permanence and fragility. This practice is slow and shifting, but always grounded in care.

Thanks for supporting thoughtful work. I hope what I make invites you to pause, too.

-Shannon Courtenay