Robyn Stewart (New Zealand) ceramics

Robyn Stewart was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1938. She studied pottery at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland from 1956 to 1958. After graduating, she worked as a potter in Auckland and Wellington.

In 1968, Stewart moved to Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands, where she set up a pottery studio. She lived and worked in Rarotonga for 10 years, during which time she developed her own distinctive style of pottery. Her work was characterized by its simple forms, bold colours, and use of Maori motifs.

In 1978, Stewart returned to New Zealand and settled in Christchurch. She continued to work as a potter, and her work became increasingly popular. She exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions all over New Zealand, and her work is represented in museum collections around the world.

Stewart was a pioneer of Maori-inspired pottery in New Zealand. She was more... inspired by the traditional Maori art of whakairo (carving), and she incorporated Maori motifs into her pottery designs. Her work helped to bring Maori art to a wider audience, and she is considered one of the most important potters in New Zealand history. Robyn Stewart died in Christchurch in 2018 at the age of 79 years. less...