Helen Foster - Ceramic Artist - Pottery

Helen is an established ceramic artist, who uses the surrounding landscapes to draw inspiration for her highly awarded artistic and functional pieces. Helen gained a wealth of knowledge working as an art technician at Kalgoorlie College for 6 years, where she also studied painting, drawing, textiles, and later studied ceramics at Curtin University, Kalgoorlie. 32 years of living in Kalgoorlie has been a major source of inspiration for Helen’s creative exploration of throwing simple forms reflecting the colours of the land from it’s range of subtle hues through to the harsh browns, reds and ochres.

Helen Foster - Artist Biography

Helen Foster pursued artistic training as a mature age student at night classes in 1977 as my time was limited being a working mother. Her work background was as a draftswoman for 21 years, 11 years as a technician in the Department of Art and Design, Kalgoorlie College, 5 years as a Human Resources Officer for Curtin University, Kalgoorlie and 2.5 years Client Services Officer, Curtin University, Margaret River. Helen Foster gained a wealth of knowledge working as an Art Technician, Kalgoorlie College for 6 years, she then became exhibition co-ordinator part time and studied part-time. 32 years living in Kalgoorlie gave her a great understanding of the country and it became apparent through creative exploration that she could capture her feelings and visions of the radiant landscape by throwing simple forms reflecting the colours of the land from its range of subtle hues through to the harsh browns, reds and ochres. Helen made a quantum leap in 2001 and moved to Margaret River another beautiful part of Western Australia, a softer, gentler lifestyle and a major turning point in her life. It has given her the opportunity to exhibit more widely, become a member of a large group of artisans and to extend her knowledge exploring all the possibilities clay presents for expression. "My aim is to create forms of beauty with visual impact and to establish an individuality of style." Helen Foster

Academic Qualifications

• 1986-89     Associate Diploma in Visual Arts (Ceramics Major) W.A.C.A.E.
• 1981-85     Kalgoorlie College Diploma Art Studies
• 1977-78     Drawing/Painting Studies Eastern Goldfields Technical College

Part-time Teaching

• 1984-94     Kalgoorlie College in Painting, Drawing, Textiles
• 1995-96     Curtin University, Kalgoorlie - Ceramics

Selected Group Exhibitions

• 2010
  • Minnawarra Art Award, Armadale
• 2009
  • MR Artisans Biennial Exhibition, Mandurah
  •       Townsville Ceramic Awards, Perk Tucker Gallery
  •       CAAWA Annual Selective Exhibition, Sth Freo
  •       Bunbury Biennale, Bunbury Gallery & Vasse Felix
  •       Forbidden Fruit, Love, Lust & Liquor, Willyabrup
• 2008
  • CAAWA's Western Survey, Central TAFE
• 2007
  • City Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize
  •       Fluid on The Brain, Willyabrup Dreaming
  •       Southern Exposure, Central TAFE Art Gallery
  • Artisans Exposed, Garden Art Studio, Yallingup
  •       Mycologia, Mundaring Truffle Exhibition
  •       CAAWA Shoebox Exhibition, Gorepani Gallery
  •       Style & Sensibility, Art Geo Gallery, Busselton
  •       It's All in the Mind, Busselton Pottery Club
• 2006
  • Earthworks, Miners Hall of Fame Kalgoorlie
  •       Mid Life Crisis, Willyabrup Dreaming Gallery
  •       Earthly Eruptions, Busselton Pottery
• 2005
  • Spiralling between the Capes, Vasse Felix
  •       SASR Auxillary, Campbell Barracks
• 2004/5/6
  • CAAWA Members Exhibition, Gallows Gallery
• 2003
  • Remembering, Moores Building, Fremantle
• 2000/02
  • City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize
• 1999
  • Bounty, Fremantle Arts Centre
• 1998
  • Coolgardie Ambience Art Prize Exhibition
  •       Alice Craft Award, Crafts Council NT
• 1997
  • Broken Ground, Moores Building, Fremantle
• 1996
  • 5th Australian Contemporary Art Fair, Melbourne
  •       Gold Conference, Goldfields Arts Centre
• 1995
  • Landscape as a Metaphor, Claremont School of Art
  •       WA Week Exhibition, Crafts Council-Forrest Chase
  •       Edith Cowan University Regional Colleges Exhibition Craft West
  •       New Collectables Gallery, Fremantle
• 1994
  • Wesfarmers Regional Craft Award
• 1993
  • Portfolio Exhibition, Parliament House, Perth
• 1988
  • Golden Mile Museum Art Auction
  •       Town of Kalgoorlie Art Prize
  •       Bi-Centennial Exhibition, Kalgoorlie
• 1986
  • Expose Yourself to Pots

Publications

• 2006
  • The Journal of Australian Ceramics
• 1995
  • Craftwest, Spring, Jewellery Student
  •       Craftwest Autumn 1995, Academe in Kalgoorlie
• 1993
  • Pottery in Australia, Western Australian Potters

Collections

• 2009
  • Dr Stefano Carboni, Director Western Australian Art Gallery - personal collection

• 2007
  • Bunbury Biennale Permanent Collection
  •       Curtin University, Kalgoorlie Collection
• 2000
  • Lady Brodie-Hall
  •       City Kalgoorlie-Boulder Acquisition
• 1994
  • City of Wanneroo Acquisition
• 1989
  • Kalgoorlie College Acquisition
• 1988
  • Town of Kalgoorlie Acquisition
  •       Private Collections in France, Victoria, Alice Springs and Western Australia

Awards

• 2010      Stocklands Commission Award, Minnawarra Art Exhibit.
• 2007      City Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Highly Commended
• 2000      Mining Section, Chamber of Minerals & Energy of WA Award, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize
• 1998      First Prize - Ceramics Section, Coolgardie Ambience
• 1996      First Prize - Ceramics Section, City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize Exhibition
• 1994      Joint Prize Ceramics, Coolgardie Today Art Prize
• 1988      Town of Kalgoorlie Acquisitive Prize
• 1982      Ian Taylor Award
• 1978      Jordan & Jacksons Drawing Award

Memberships

• Ceramics Arts Association of Western Australia
• Margaret River Artisans, Cape to Cape
• Life Member Golden Mile Art Group
• Busselton Pottery

Co-ordinated / Curated Exhibitions

• 1994-2000  June - City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize
• 1993      June - Woodline Exhibition, Kalgoorlie
• 1993      May - Harry Jackson Art Award, Kalgoorlie College
• 1993      March - Portfolio Exhibition, Parliament House, Perth
• 1993      April - Portfolio Exhibition, Perth Mint
• 1992      December - Launched Daughters of Midas, PICA
• 1992      September - Back to Bayley's Centennial Exhib, Coolgardie
• 1992      August - Images of a Centenary, Coolgardie Exhibition
• 1992      July - Launched Daughters of Midas, Flanagans Bar
• 1992      February - Aqua Images, Photographic Exhibition
• 1991      May - Gareth Morse