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NAS Retake: Juz Kitson

NAS Connect

NAS Retake: Juz Kitson

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Juz Kitson completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (Hons in Ceramics) in 2009. She now divides her time living between Jingdezhen, a city that is said to produce the highest quality porcelain in China, and her studio in Milton on the south coast of New South Wales.

Her ceramic sculptures reveal a fascination with feminine and masculine ambiguous forms and the sensuality of materials. They invariably reference human and animal parts in uncanny and fluid combinations. Informed by the traditional Chinese techniques of moulding, slip casting and glaze firing, her use of the highly refined Southern Ice porcelain, her graceful and elegant palette, soft hues and high gloss porcelain creates a friction posed by fleshy, sexual, bodily subject matter.

Juz Kitson’s work Naked Simplicity conceptually draws on two texts that are at the core of Kitson’s practice. The first, Julia Kristeva’s essay Power of Horror, explores the theories of Freud and Lacan to examine horror, castration, the phallic signifier and other concepts of feminist criticism. The second book, Sogyal Rinpoche’s The Tibetan book of Living and Dying, guides its user through the vision of life and death underlying the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Both these texts offer an outlook on the idea of abjection.

In Naked Simplicity, the objects no longer represent parts of an internal body; having been ‘cast off’, they represent emotion and the human condition. They are soft, tender and inviting, yet possibly dangerous and threatening. They are luscious and satisfying, but also abnormal and obscene. Classical in symmetry and powerful without words, these forms hold their presence in any given space.

Kitson’s use of Southern Ice porcelain also links to the work of ceramicist Les Blakebrough. His piece Three Tilted Bowls is made from the same material and was acquired by the National Art School in 2018.

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Keep your eyes peeled on our page as we feature new works and artists straight from the NAS Archive and Collection. Follow the hashtag on Instagram to stay up-to-date with our latest posts.

Image: Juz Kitson, Naked Simplicity; radiant with the warmth of an immense compassion, 2016, Southern Ice porcelain, Jingdezhen porcelain, Merino wool, horse hair, paraffin wax, marine ply and treated pine, 130 x 65 x 33 cm, National Art School Collection, donated via the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by the artist, 2018 © the artist

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Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night of ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’

‘Chaosophy’ is now open until Saturday 8 March
11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday
Building 25 Project Space
Free admission, all welcome

Learn more about the exhibition at the link in bio.

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Feb 14

Open
Thank you to everyone who attended the opening night of ‘Queer Contemporary: Chaosophy’ ‘Chaosophy’ is now open until Saturday 8 March 11am – 5pm Monday to Saturday Building 25 Project Space Free admission, all welcome Learn more about the exhibition at the link in bio.

NAS Library is proud to launch their 2025 Library Stairwell Gallery programming with this years LSG show for Queer Contemporary, ‘Subtexts’, opening this Thursday 13 February.

‘Subtexts’ unites four artists whose work demonstrates the complexities of queer identity, each considering their own personal relationship with queerness. The show offers alternative narratives and styles that challenge notions of queer uniformity, opting to explore the undertones and implications of queerness as a dislocated front.

‘Subtexts’ asks of the ambiguous term; Are we united by virtue of our difference, or rather the unique positions it presents us?

Featuring works by
@professional__disoppointment
@sarah_r_serfati
@theolathouras
@ziggywoodartist

View

Feb 9

Open
NAS Library is proud to launch their 2025 Library Stairwell Gallery programming with this years LSG show for Queer Contemporary, ‘Subtexts’, opening this Thursday 13 February. ‘Subtexts’ unites four artists whose work demonstrates the complexities of queer identity, each considering their own personal relationship with queerness. The show offers alternative narratives and styles that challenge notions of queer uniformity, opting to explore the undertones and implications of queerness as a dislocated front. ‘Subtexts’ asks of the ambiguous term; Are we united by virtue of our difference, or rather the unique positions it presents us? Featuring works by @professional__disoppointment @sarah_r_serfati @theolathouras @ziggywoodartist

We’re looking for an Exhibitions Project Officer!

The role has a focus on major Indigenous exhibition projects currently in development for the National Art School as well as touring programs. The role assists with the delivery and coordination of Gallery programs, talks, and other events in the gallery spaces.

You have a background in visual art, art history, curatorship and gallery experience. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with strong organisational and project management experience.

Note this is an Identified Role and is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants only, in accordance with Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 NSW.

Application deadline extended to Sunday 9 February.

Apply at the link in bio.
—
Ronan Pirozzi, `Serpentine`, 2023; `Trajectory`, 2023; `Desolate`, 2023; installation view, undo the day, NAS Gallery, Sydney, 2024, oil on welded steel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley

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Feb 2

Open
We’re looking for an Exhibitions Project Officer! The role has a focus on major Indigenous exhibition projects currently in development for the National Art School as well as touring programs. The role assists with the delivery and coordination of Gallery programs, talks, and other events in the gallery spaces. You have a background in visual art, art history, curatorship and gallery experience. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, along with strong organisational and project management experience. Note this is an Identified Role and is open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants only, in accordance with Section 14(D) of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, 1977 NSW. Application deadline extended to Sunday 9 February. Apply at the link in bio. — Ronan Pirozzi, 'Serpentine', 2023; 'Trajectory', 2023; 'Desolate', 2023; installation view, undo the day, NAS Gallery, Sydney, 2024, oil on welded steel, image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Zan Wimberley

The National Art School has today announced respected Australian academic, writer and curator Dr Kristen Sharp as the next Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Kristen joins the National Art School with extensive experience in the fields of contemporary art and tertiary education having spent six years as Associate Dean Discipline, Art in the School of Art at RMIT University, and previously 9 years as Academic Lead Art History and Theory at RMIT. She will commence her new role at the National Art School on 24th February 2025.

Read the full media release at the link in bio.

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Jan 30

Open
The National Art School has today announced respected Australian academic, writer and curator Dr Kristen Sharp as the next Director and Chief Executive Officer. Kristen joins the National Art School with extensive experience in the fields of contemporary art and tertiary education having spent six years as Associate Dean Discipline, Art in the School of Art at RMIT University, and previously 9 years as Academic Lead Art History and Theory at RMIT. She will commence her new role at the National Art School on 24th February 2025. Read the full media release at the link in bio.
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