In this blog series, we interview previous winners of the Stanthorpe Art Prize. Here we chat with Yve Gray who won the Local Artist Award in the 2021 Stanthorpe Art Prize with her work Chalcopyrite.

What made you decide to enter the Stanthorpe Art Prize in 2020/1?

I have submitted pieces of my work to three previous Stanthorpe Art Prizes and have made the selection on all occasions.  Being selected in this is not only an honour but it also gives one the opportunity to showcase and sell the selected piece at the Stanthorpe Art Prize Exhibition.

Has winning first prize in the 2021 Stanthorpe Art Prize changed anything in your art life?

Winning the local art prize was a huge surprise as I really wasn’t expecting a ceramic piece to win, as a potter it was a rewarding moment when the judges extended me this award especially as there are many talented artist who could have won this prize.  

The award of this prize encouraged me to submit my raku pieces to the Queensland Ceramic Arts Siliceous Award for Ceramic Excellence in which two of my pieces were selected for the finals. All the finalists’ works were displayed at the Butter Factory Arts Centre Cooroy in November 2021, I was pleased to sell my work during this exhibition.

Did you gain any exposure from being a winner?

It has given me exposure, when I am exhibiting as a potter I am able to add this accolade to my artistic profile.   The most important honour is having the winning piece acquired by the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery especially as I was born and raised in Stanthorpe.

Where has your work taken you since 2021?

Presently I am experimenting more with my pieces and with raku firings. Raku is an unpredictable and unique process; rarely do any two firings have the same outcome. 

The piece that won the local award was raku fired with a copper glaze.  My son, a mining engineer, sourced some special copper for me which I used in the slip for this piece.  

Do you plan to enter the 2024 Stanthorpe Art Prize?

I am working on a couple of pieces for the Art Prize at the moment.  The 2021 Art Prize Exhibition showcased 141 impressive artworks. I will submit my work to see if I am lucky enough again to be at least selected in the 2024 Stanthorpe Art Prize.

See more of Yve’s work:

• Facebook page: Pottery by Yve Gray