Ceramic Workshops with Yukiko Tsuchiya
Ceramic Workshops
August 23, 2025
Join visiting Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya for a day of hands-on making and cross-cultural exchange in this special double workshop event!
We’re thrilled to welcome Yukiko Tsuchiya—an accomplished ceramic artist from Karatsu, Japan—for two intimate workshops held in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation, Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.
In the morning, join a wheel-throwing masterclass designed for participants with prior experience, where attendees can observe Tsuchiya’s refined techniques and then create their own works under her guidance. In the afternoon, beginners are invited to take part in a hand-coiling workshop, exploring organic and expressive forms using traditional methods adapted from Karatsu’s ceramic heritage.
All participants will have the opportunity to mark their pieces with clay slips and have their works bisque-fired by NAS for collection at a later date.
The workshops will be facilitated and hosted by the National Art School, with special thanks to Dr Louise Boscacci (Head of Ceramics), and Machiko Motoi (Ceramics Studio Technician).
Whether you’re a seasoned ceramicist or curious to try something new, come and get your hands dirty in a warm, collaborative environment with one of Karatsu’s most gifted ceramicists.
Whilst at the National Art School, visit the recently opened exhibition The Neighbour at the Gate. Bringing together newly commissioned works, the exhibition reckons with the echoes of immigration policies and the legacies of colonialism in Australia, unravelling how these forces continue to shape First Nations and Asian Australian experiences and relationships. NAS Gallery is open 11am – 5pm. Find out more.
Enjoy lunch from the new winter menu at NAS café (open 8:30-4pm).
Attendees are advised to bring an apron, an old towel to drape over their lap and wear covered shoes.
Please note that these workshops will be conducted in English and Japanese with the assistance of an interpreter. These workshops are suitable for participants aged 16 years and over.
About the Artist
Yukiko Tsuchiya 土屋由紀子
Yukiko Tsuchiya (b.1971) is a potter born in the coastal city of Karatsu on the south island of Kyushu, a location famous for ceramic production since the late 16th century. Encouraged since childhood by her father, Yukiko had an early interest in ceramics but only pursued it in earnest after graduating from Kyushu Industrial University with a degree in design. Reluctant to leave her hometown to pursue a career in fashion, she decided on ceramics. After training in the renowned Nakazato kiln, she established ‘Yukiko kiln’ in 2002 and began exhibiting in galleries around the country. She is now considered one of the most exciting young Karatsu ceramicists.
Examples of Tsuchiya’s Work
About The Exhibition
Crafting Life: Stories from the Japanese Studio is an exhibition that explores Japanese craft from a fresh perspective. Showcasing three craft practices from different regions of Japan, this exhibition highlights the dynamism and resilience of artisans, who continually innovate to ensure the relevance of their craft practices in contemporary Japan, and beyond. On display are works by a ceramic artist from Karatsu (Yukiko Tsuchiya), a maki-e lacquerware company originally from Wajima, now based in Kanazawa (Hikoju Maki-e Co. Ltd.), and a sashiko needlework collective turned ‘brand’ from Ōtsuchi (Ōtsuchi Sashiko).
CLICK HERE for more information on the exhibition
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Morning Wheel-Throwing Masterclass
August 23, 2025 (Saturday)
9:30am – 12:30pm
$181.23 (inc. booking fees)
Afternoon Hand-Coiling for Beginners
August 23, 2025 (Saturday)
2pm – 4pm
$117.79 (inc. booking fees)
VENUE
National Art School
156 Forbes St
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
ENQUIRIES
(02) 8239 0055
Cancellations are accepted and refunds excluding booking fees will be offered up to 7 days prior to the workshop. No refunds will be given after this time.
Header image: Yukiko Tsuchiya
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