Mud Australia Awards Annual Ceramic Prize

Mud Australia has named Alfred Lowe as the winner of the 2024 Shelley Simpson Ceramic Prize, providing him with international exposure and a $10,000 cash prize.
 
Shelley Simpson, creative director and founder of Mud Australia, describes Lowe’s work as striking, modern, colorful, and some of the most exciting work she’s seen. As a seasoned traveler she visits art galleries all over the globe and believes the contemporary ceramics from Australia’s indigenous artists are by far the most interesting.
 
“I have watched Alfred grow as an artist and his work is incredibly inspiring. After the referendum last year, I felt it would be remiss of me not to shine a light on Alfred’s work as well as the talent coming out of the APY Studio in Adelaide. I’m thrilled to award him this year’s prize and support his work now and in the years to come,” says Simpson.
 
The Shelley Simpson Ceramic Prize is an annual initiative created to support the next generation of Australian ceramicists. These artists may be working across functional, small-scale, fine art, handcrafted or more complex commercial pursuits with ceramics.

“Visual arts have long been poorly funded and under-valued. With no change in sight, it’s up to individuals and businesses, like Mud Australia to do what they can to reverse the decline”.
 
As part of the SSCP, Lowe’s work will be on display across Mud Australia’s 12 retail stores globally including London, New York, Los Angeles and Australia. This is the first time that Lowe will have his work displayed internationally since beginning his career in 2021.
 
“I’m thrilled to receive the Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize and have the opportunity to display my work in Mud stores across Australia and internationally. Shelley is committed to raising the profile of emerging ceramists and First Nations artists like myself. She has an incredible reputation of excellence in both ceramics and business, so to be recognized in this way, by her, is truly an honor.” says Lowe.
 
Lowe started making ceramics in early 2021 and now practices daily at the APY Studio Adelaide. His interest in fine arts is heavily influenced by his interest in politics and racial justice and how culture and identity are navigated and manifested in modern times.
 
“Flat footed, strength at the core with a posture of defiance, my works explore identity, culture and connection to country. Bright, colorful and fun, I want them to hold a presence in a room. A presence that rejects expectations, ignores preconceptions and embraces a provocative sense of rebellion.” says Lowe of his work.
 
Lowe is a proud Arrernte person from Snake Well in the Central Desert, north of Alice Springs. His work features hand-coiled clay forms working with buff raku trachyte clay to produce a beautiful textured form to which he applies an underglaze to achieve a bright, flat finish to the color and lines applied to the clay.
 
Mud Australia introduced The Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize in 2020 and has since awarded nine artists including first, second and third prize winners over the last three years. This is the first year the prize has been awarded without a public competition. To view previous winners, visit https://mudaustralia.com/shelley-simpson-ceramics-prize.

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