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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In Naked Simplicity, the objects no longer represent parts of an internal body; having been ‘cast off’, they represent emotion and the human condition.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.

Want to find out more?

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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Due to the overwhelming interest in The Neighbour at the Gate, we are excited to announce that the NAS Gallery is now open on Sunday, for the duration of the exhibition.

Head to the link in bio to plan your visit.

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Aug 1

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Due to the overwhelming interest in The Neighbour at the Gate, we are excited to announce that the NAS Gallery is now open on Sunday, for the duration of the exhibition. Head to the link in bio to plan your visit.

Ever wondered what it’s like studying at the National Art School?

Find out at our Open Day on Saturday 6 September, 10am to 4pm.

Considering art as a career or simply curious about what happens behind the school’s historic sandstone walls? Save the date on Eventbrite (link in bio) to see what life is like for students at NAS by participating in studio demonstrations, chatting to our academic staff and visiting the NAS Gallery and student exhibition spaces across our campus.

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Jul 30

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Ever wondered what it’s like studying at the National Art School? Find out at our Open Day on Saturday 6 September, 10am to 4pm. Considering art as a career or simply curious about what happens behind the school’s historic sandstone walls? Save the date on Eventbrite (link in bio) to see what life is like for students at NAS by participating in studio demonstrations, chatting to our academic staff and visiting the NAS Gallery and student exhibition spaces across our campus.

The National Art School was saddened to hear of the recent death of artist and NAS alumnus Bruce Goold (1948-2025).

Born in Newcastle in 1948, from 1961- 65 Bruce attended Sydney Grammar School, where he studied art with ceramicist and potter Gordon McCausland. This was followed by a year at the National Art School, Newcastle. Here he experimented with various mediums and made his first linocut. He then studied at the National Art School, c. 1967-68.

Bruce was a member of the artist collective Yellow House between 1970-72. The former Clune Gallery in Kings Cross was transformed by Martin Sharp and a group of fellow artists, who painted the exterior bright yellow and covered its internal walls with murals, portraits and decoration. Artists such as Brett Whiteley, Peter Wright, Bruce Goold, Greg Weight and Peter Kingston turned the building into an artwork, while visiting bands and celebrities made it a regular fixture of the Sydney scene.

Known principally as a printmaker, Goold created coloured linocuts and woodblocks including many images of Australian flora and fauna, as well as South Pacific inspired esoteric and symbolic subjects. He held solo exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and internationally in London and Ireland. He received major commissions for poster, logo and interior design and worked as a designer for Mambo from 1992.

A retrospective exhibition, Bruce Goold, Artist, Designer, Printmaker, curated by Therese Kenyon, was held at Manly Art Gallery & Museum in 2008.
The National Art School extends its sympathies to Bruce’s family and many friends.
—
Greg Weight, `Bruce Goold`, 1998, NAS Collection

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Jul 28

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The National Art School was saddened to hear of the recent death of artist and NAS alumnus Bruce Goold (1948-2025). Born in Newcastle in 1948, from 1961- 65 Bruce attended Sydney Grammar School, where he studied art with ceramicist and potter Gordon McCausland. This was followed by a year at the National Art School, Newcastle. Here he experimented with various mediums and made his first linocut. He then studied at the National Art School, c. 1967-68. Bruce was a member of the artist collective Yellow House between 1970-72. The former Clune Gallery in Kings Cross was transformed by Martin Sharp and a group of fellow artists, who painted the exterior bright yellow and covered its internal walls with murals, portraits and decoration. Artists such as Brett Whiteley, Peter Wright, Bruce Goold, Greg Weight and Peter Kingston turned the building into an artwork, while visiting bands and celebrities made it a regular fixture of the Sydney scene. Known principally as a printmaker, Goold created coloured linocuts and woodblocks including many images of Australian flora and fauna, as well as South Pacific inspired esoteric and symbolic subjects. He held solo exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and internationally in London and Ireland. He received major commissions for poster, logo and interior design and worked as a designer for Mambo from 1992. A retrospective exhibition, Bruce Goold, Artist, Designer, Printmaker, curated by Therese Kenyon, was held at Manly Art Gallery & Museum in 2008. The National Art School extends its sympathies to Bruce’s family and many friends. — Greg Weight, 'Bruce Goold', 1998, NAS Collection

Got a young artist at home?

Art Club Term 3 is now open for enrolment — and we’ve got an exciting painting program lined up. This term, kids will explore styles like Expressive Acrylics and Contemporary Watercolour, all while building their confidence and creativity.

Monday afternoons, led by artist and educator Grant Bellamy.

Visit the link in bio to learn more and enrol.

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Jul 17

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Got a young artist at home? Art Club Term 3 is now open for enrolment — and we’ve got an exciting painting program lined up. This term, kids will explore styles like Expressive Acrylics and Contemporary Watercolour, all while building their confidence and creativity. Monday afternoons, led by artist and educator Grant Bellamy. Visit the link in bio to learn more and enrol.
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