Christine Boswijk (New Zealand) ceramics

Christine Boswijk (née McDowell, born 1939) is a New Zealand ceramicist. She was born in Nelson, New Zealand, in 1939 and studied art at the University of Canterbury from 1957 to 1960, and then worked as a teacher for several years. In 1977, she enrolled in the Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Art, where she studied ceramics with Michael Trumic and Neil Grant.

After graduating from Otago Polytechnic, Boswijk returned to Nelson and became a full-time potter. Her early work was influenced by the Scandinavian design movement, and she produced functional ware with simple, elegant shapes. In the 1980s, her work became more sculptural and abstract, and she began to experiment with different glazes and firing techniques.

Boswijk's work is characterized by its expressive forms and rich, earthy colors. She often uses natural forms as inspiration, such as the nikau palm tree, which is native to New Zealand. more... Her work is also often infused with a sense of spirituality.

Boswijk has exhibited her work extensively in New Zealand and overseas. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the New Zealand Ceramics Award in 1984 and 1994. In 2004, she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ceramic art. Her works are held in institutions both in New Zealand and internationally including in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Dowse Art Museum, the Christchurch Art Gallery, the Suter Art Gallery, the Museum of Taipei and the Aberystwyth University ceramics collection. less...