For ceramicist Marama Hannah, the journey to her first solo exhibition has been a deeply personal and creative evolution. Launching on 13 January at The Refinery Artspace on Hardy Street, the exhibition marks the culmination of eight years of passion, experimentation, and a commitment to sustainability.
Marama’s love for creating has always been a constant. From her early days as a jeweller, she sought a connection with her materials, always curious about their origins. That curiosity eventually led her to ceramics, a medium she fell in love with during a night class at Nelson Community Potters. “I just knew from that very first class that this is what I wanted to do. I had found my artistic medium,” Marama says.
This newfound passion set her on a path to master the complexities of clay, a journey she describes as meditative and endlessly experimental. Sustainability and local sourcing have been guiding principles throughout Marama’s career. As a potter, she quickly realised that most clay is imported and began searching for alternatives closer to home. “I started experimenting with local clays, which is hard when you’re a beginner. It’s very important to me to pinpoint the material to a place,” she says.
Her dedication to working with local resources has led her to use rhyolite rock from Pikowai in the Bay of Plenty. Seeking permission from local iwi, Marama has incorporated the rock into her work, giving her pieces a sense of place and heritage.
Marama credits much of her creativity to her grandmother, a talented painter and seamstress who inspired her during her upbringing. Marama’s work often explores the endless possibilities of ceramics, from thrown forms to innovative glaze techniques. “For me, it’s the process of making things, whether it’s a detailed ornate vessel or one hundred mugs. It’s a very meditative process.”
Recently, she has been diving deeper into glaze chemistry, using rocks ground into powder with traditional methods. “Pottery always pushes you to explore and try different techniques,” she says, adding that her upcoming exhibition showcases this spirit of experimentation.
Visitors to The Refinery Artspace can look forward to a stunning array of works inspired by art deco perfume bottles. The exhibition, running until 7 February, showcases Marama’s love for form and her meticulous attention to detail. A personal highlight in her career came in 2023 when she was selected for the prestigious Portage Ceramics Awards. The recognised piece, crafted using clay, rock, and ash from her father’s farm, exemplifies her commitment to blending artistry with meaningful materials.
With a home studio on Collingwood Street, open by appointment, Marama continues to push the boundaries of her craft.
