Kirsten Dryburgh

is an Aotearoa (New Zealand) based potter with 25 years of experience in ceramics, floristry, and sculpture, having honed her craft at Elam School of Fine Arts. Drawing inspiration from classical design and urban architecture, she reinterprets traditional forms to weave modern narratives into her work. From her Grey Lynn studio, Kirsten uses local and imported stoneware clays, experimenting with glazes sourced from Auckland’s mineral-rich volcanic landscape. Rocks, sands, and mineral waters have all found their place. Ranging from the domestic to the sculptural, her pieces are thrown on the wheel or shaped through press moulding, slab- and other hand-building techniques, all of which reflect her deep appreciation for the art of making.

“I love making teapots and domestic ware and the idea of the daily ceremonies that they will perform. But my real passion is towards more sculptural pieces such as brutalist or organically formed vases. The spatial quality of a vase, how it sits within a space inspires me.”