Les Blakebrough

Les Blakebrough

by Danielle Neely

Les Blakebrough (b. 1930) is one of Australia’s most respected ceramic artists. He is best known for the type of translucent porcelain he developed called ‘Southern Ice’ porcelain. Fired at 1300 degrees Celsius, this material has the ‘whiteness of snow and a translucence of ice’.

It is now used by ceramicists worldwide and features in the practice of another NAS alumni, Juz Kitson. Blakebrough’s works in porcelain have an ethereal simplicity and visual purity. In ‘Three tilted bowls’, a recent work from 2016, he set each bowl on an individual angle of tilt, side by side.

Wave-like lines are carved into the unglazed outer wall of each form, poetically articulating the gentle undulations of the sea. The artist says, ‘My local environment in Coledale informs what I do; the brooding presence of the sandstone escarpment, the energetic forces of the ocean and the beautiful lines of the waves rising and falling.’

lesblakeborough

Images: Les Blakebrough AM, Three tilted bowls, 2016, southern ice porcelain, 12.5 x 17 cm (each). National Art School Collection, donated by the artist via the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2018; © the artist

We’re Hiring!

Lecturer Ceramics - Application Deadline Sunday 20 October

The Lecturer Ceramics is primarily responsible for teaching and supervision at all levels within the degree programs at NAS, including the development of appropriate teaching resources and related course administration within the Ceramics department. The role also requires a broad contribution to NAS operations including participation in School committees, events, student recruitment and promotional activities. You will have an excellent record of subject development and delivery in the field of Ceramics within a higher education setting.

Visit the link in bio to learn more.

Oct 6

We’re Hiring! Lecturer Ceramics - Application Deadline Sunday 20 October The Lecturer Ceramics is primarily responsible for teaching and supervision at all levels within the degree programs at NAS, including the development of appropriate teaching resources and related course administration within the Ceramics department. The role also requires a broad contribution to NAS operations including participation in School committees, events, student recruitment and promotional activities. You will have an excellent record of subject development and delivery in the field of Ceramics within a higher education setting. Visit the link in bio to learn more.

Calling all parents of budding artists, enrolment for Art Club Term 4 is open!

Art Club provides an opportunity for young artists to grow their technical, conceptual, and intellectual skills, helping them further their studies in the creative field. Each program will be guided by one of our lecturers, all of whom are successful practicing artists. There are different disciplines that students can specialize in, from sculpture to painting.

Visit the link in bio to learn more.

Oct 3

Calling all parents of budding artists, enrolment for Art Club Term 4 is open! Art Club provides an opportunity for young artists to grow their technical, conceptual, and intellectual skills, helping them further their studies in the creative field. Each program will be guided by one of our lecturers, all of whom are successful practicing artists. There are different disciplines that students can specialize in, from sculpture to painting. Visit the link in bio to learn more.

Spend your weekend at ZAHALKAWORLD: an artist’s archive, a major survey exhibition of Anne Zahalka, one of Australia’s most highly regarded photo-media artists.

A Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) touring exhibition in a new way.

Plan your visit at the link in bio.

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Anne Zahalka, The Sunbather #1, 1989, from the series Bondi: playground of the Pacific chromogenic print, 49 x 49 cm, Courtesy of the artist, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne and Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney.

Oct 2

Spend your weekend at ZAHALKAWORLD: an artist’s archive, a major survey exhibition of Anne Zahalka, one of Australia’s most highly regarded photo-media artists. A Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) touring exhibition in a new way. Plan your visit at the link in bio. _ Anne Zahalka, The Sunbather #1, 1989, from the series Bondi: playground of the Pacific chromogenic print, 49 x 49 cm, Courtesy of the artist, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne and Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney.

“I love the magic of watching a photo develop, but I also loved the idea of paintings by the great masters. I found myself being drawn to the art canon and then finding my own visual language to place it in a contemporary setting.” - Anne Zahalka

Read more about Anne Zahalka and her major survey exhibition ZAHALKAWORLD – an artist’s archive in The Sydney Morning Herald’s profile at the link in bio.

A Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) touring exhibition in a new way.
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Anne Zahalka, The Cook (Michael Schmidt/architect, cook) 1987, from the series Resemblance, silver dye bleach print 80 x 80 cm, Museum of Australian Photography, City of Monash, Collection acquired with the assistance of The Robert Salzer Foundation 2019. Images courtesy of the artist, Arc One Gallery, Melbourne and Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney.

Sep 28

Enrol in a Term 4 Short Course Today!

With online and on-campus courses available in drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture, you`ll learn from Australia`s leading art educators.

Our short courses are designed for students of all levels of experience, from beginners to intermediate and advanced levels.

Take your practice to the next level with NAS, learn more at the link in bio.

Sep 28

Enrol in a Term 4 Short Course Today! With online and on-campus courses available in drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture, you'll learn from Australia's leading art educators. Our short courses are designed for students of all levels of experience, from beginners to intermediate and advanced levels. Take your practice to the next level with NAS, learn more at the link in bio.

We’re Hiring!

Academic Administrator - Application Deadline Sunday 29 September

The Academic Administrative Assistant plays a crucial support role within the National Art School (NAS), providing administrative assistance for academic affairs and executive support to key leadership positions. This role works closely with the Academic Leadership Team to ensure efficient operations and support for NAS’s academic functions. This role is a six month fixed term contract, four days per week.

Learning Designer - Application Deadline Sunday 29 September

The Learning Designer is a crucial role within the National Art School (NAS), supporting the Head of Learning and Teaching in curriculum development and program reaccreditation. This position is responsible for managing the current learning portal and overseeing the transition to a new SharePoint/LMS system, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, student-centric online learning experiences.

Visit the link in bio to learn more.

Sep 27

We’re Hiring! Academic Administrator - Application Deadline Sunday 29 September The Academic Administrative Assistant plays a crucial support role within the National Art School (NAS), providing administrative assistance for academic affairs and executive support to key leadership positions. This role works closely with the Academic Leadership Team to ensure efficient operations and support for NAS’s academic functions. This role is a six month fixed term contract, four days per week. Learning Designer - Application Deadline Sunday 29 September The Learning Designer is a crucial role within the National Art School (NAS), supporting the Head of Learning and Teaching in curriculum development and program reaccreditation. This position is responsible for managing the current learning portal and overseeing the transition to a new SharePoint/LMS system, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, student-centric online learning experiences. Visit the link in bio to learn more.