Vi Eyre (Australia) ceramics

Vi Eyre (1870-1956) was a prolific early 20th century Sydney and Brisbane potter, known and highly regarded for her distinctly Australian motifs. She was also the wife and mother of cartoonists Hal Eyre and Harry Eyre Jnr respectively.

Little is known about Eyre's early life and training, but she is thought to have been self-taught. She began exhibiting her work in the early 1920s, and by the mid-1920s she was one of the most well-known potters in Australia. Her work was regularly exhibited at the Society of Arts and Crafts of NSW, and she was awarded numerous prizes for her pottery.

Eyre was known for her innovative use of glazes and her unique designs. She often decorated her pottery with Australian motifs, such as gum trees, kangaroos, and Aboriginal symbols. She was also a pioneer in the use of Australian native plants in her pottery more... .

Eyre's pottery was very popular with collectors and tourists, and her work was exported to all over the world. She was also a successful businesswoman, and she ran a successful pottery studio in Coogee, Sydney.

In 1931, Eyre and her family moved to Brisbane, where she continued to produce pottery. She exhibited her work regularly at the Queensland Art Gallery, and she was a member of the Queensland Arts Council.

Eyre retired from pottery in the early 1950s, and she died in 1956. Her work is held in major museums and galleries around Australia. less...