BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
Stephanie James-Manttan is a ceramic artist based in Adelaide, South Australia and completed her Bachelor of Visuals Arts and Applied Degree from TAFE SA College of the Arts in 2006.
In 2007 Stephanie commenced the highly recognised associate training program at JamFactory Contemporary Craft & Design. Due to James-Manttan’s commendatory involvement within the South Australian ceramics community, she was appointed Studio Head - Ceramics at JamFactory in 2019 to 2023.
Recently, James-Manttan received the City of Adelaide TAFE SA Honour Award for making a significant impact to the city of Adelaide through cultural, economic and community contribution.
Stephanie now works from her home studio along with her two Labradors (Rusty and Captain) where she makes and designs her bespoke ceramics pieces for both retail and exhibitions. Her work is held in private and public collections internationally.
Please visit her SHOP to purchase any of her unique pieces.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Stephanie creates intricately detailed sculptural porcelain forms by transforming the hard visual exterior of clay to a soft, woven like characteristic. Inspired by the repetitive patterns in life, objects, art and nature, as well as the rhythmic patterns and organic materiality of Indigenous basket weaving.
James-Manttan’s current practice explores the natural phenomenon called murmuration, which is a gathering of huge number of starlings that perform intricately coordinated patterns through the evening sky. James-Manttan personally witness it herself several years ago in the skies over the Cathedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy. “I was mesmerised…My heart skipped a beat, it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. It wasn’t just the scale and movement that captivated me, it was collective consciousness by the swarm — the birds moved in perfect unison. A brain cell has no intelligence by itself, but put together in sufficient numbers, they display remarkable properties, just like these birds. Not sounding cynical, but maybe humanity could take a leaf out their book”
Education/Qualification
2006 to 2008: Bachelor Visual Arts and Design, major in ceramics. TAFE SA, Adelaide Centre for the Arts. I received the Experimental Art Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievements in Core Studies. Graduation exhibition work was selected for Hatched ’07 which is the national graduation exhibition in Perth.
Professional Development Experience
Feb 2007 to Dec 2008 – Ceramic Design Associate, JamFactory, Adelaide. SA:
Jan 2019 to 2023 - Appointed Studio Head of JamFactory Ceramics Studio
Sept 2016 – ‘Home’, collaborative project Guildhouse and Beaumount Tiles for Asia Pacific Space Design Alliance Conference
Feb 2015/Dec 2018 – Wheel Throwing Short Course Program tutor: Adelaide Potters & SJM Ceramics
May 2013 – Guest Curator: ‘Over the Road’, Alumni to Adelaide College of the Arts and JamFactory
July 2013 – Judge: ‘Teatree Gully Ceramics Awards’, Teatree Gully, SA
Aug/Sept 2011 – Residency: Mercedes College, Mitcham, SA
July 2009 – Masterclass: 3 Days world renowned potter Takeshi Yasuda (Japan, China, UK)
Aug 2009 – Residency: Innes National Park with South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage
Feb 2007 –JamFactory two year Design Associate program in the Ceramic Studio. JamFactory is a leading craft and design institution with a national and international reputation for excellence
Solo Exhibitions
Dec 2021 – ‘Sort Sol’ JamFactory, Gallery 2, Adelaide, SA
Jul 2012 - ‘Indent’ JamFactory, Collector Space, Adelaide, SA
Jun 2011 - ‘Re-Mark’, Kerrie Lowe Galleries, Newtown, NSW
Jul 2009 - 'Porcelain Vessels', JamFactory, Studio Works Gallery, Adelaide, SA
Oct 2009 - ‘Impression’, Art Images, Norwood, SA
Nov 2009 - Feature Artist, Barossa Living Gallery, Tanunda, SA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 – ‘Common Elements, JamFactory Ceramics Studio’ Fisher Jeffries, Adelaide, SA
2016 – ‘Tableware’, Kerrie Lowe Galleries, Sydney, NSW
2015 – ‘Space, Place, Pattern’, Worth Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2014 – ‘Be Consumed: Creative Collaborations from the Barossa’ JamFactory, Adelaide and Barossa, SA
2013 – ‘2013 Invitational Sculpture Exhibition – Fleurieu Art Prize’, Signal Point Gallery, Goolwa, SA
2013 - ‘Design Craft/Crafting Design: 40 Years of JamFactory’ Gallery 1, Adelaide, SA. National tour
2013 - ‘A civilised thing to do: JamFactory 40 Years’, Art Gallery of South Australia
2013 – ‘Over the Road’, Light Square Gallery, Adelaide, SA
2011 - ‘Makers in Retail’, JamFactory, Adelaide, SA
2010 - ‘Time & Place – Australian Studio Ceramics’, curator: Vicki Grima, Cudgegong Gallery, Gulgong, NSW
2010 - ‘Excursion’, Carbon Black Gallery, Prahran, VIC
2010 - ‘Art of Nature’, Innes National Park Information Centre, SA
2010 - ‘Teawares’, JamFactory, Gallery 1, Adelaide, SA.
2010 - ‘South Australian Ceramic Awards’, Adelaide Central School of Art, Norwood.
2010 - ‘Clay Adelaide’, Exhibition House, Gulgong, NSW.
2009 - ‘Stirring the Possum, Art of Nature’, Hilton, Adelaide, SA.
2009 - 'South Australia, Clay Without Convicts', National Art School, Darlinghurst, NSW.
2009 - 'JamFactory Ceramic Studio', JamFactory, Atrium, Adelaide, SA.
2008 - 'Finale', Space Between, Adelaide, SA. JamFactory 2nd year Associate exhibition.
2007 - 'JamFactory Biennial', JamFactory Gallery 1, Adelaide, SA.
2007 - 'Ceramic Studio Works', JamFactory Retail Studio Gallery, Adelaide, SA.
2007 - 'Muswellbrook Ceramic Awards', Muswellbrook, NSW.
2007 - Selected to be part of the 'Hatched '07' national graduation exhibition, Perth WA.
2007 - Selected to be part of the 'Helpmann Academy Graduation Exhibition' Adelaide, SA.
2007 - 'Clay Fest' Gulgong, NSW.
Public Collections
Art Gallery of South Australian.
South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage.
Government of South Australia, Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Selected Publications/Interviews
2022 - The Lead - ‘Sort Sol: When nature’s beauty takes flight’ by Katherine Tamiko Arguile https://theleadsouthaustralia.com.au/industries/arts/sort-sol-when-natures-beauty-takes-flight/
2022 - InDaily - ‘Sort Sol: When nature’s beauty takes flight’ by Katherine Tamiko Arguile https://indaily.com.au/inreview/visual-art/2022/01/14/sort-sol-when-natures-beauty-takes-flight/
2021 - Habitus Living, Design Hunters ‘The Secret Life of Clay’ by Aleesha Callahan https://www.habitusliving.com/design-hunters/the-secret-life-clay-jamfactory
2021 - JamFactory: Marmalade ‘5 Minutes with Stephanie James-Manttan’ https://www.jamfactory.com.au/marmalade/2021/five-minutes-with-stephanie-jm
2019 – ‘Adelaide Review’, ‘Artist’s Studio: Stephanie James-Manttan’ Jan 2019, page 54
2017 – ‘House and Gardens’, ‘Meet the Maker’ June, Page 52
2011 - ‘Craft Arts International’, ‘South Australian Ceramics Awards’ pages 110 & 111
2011 - ‘The Journal of Australian Ceramics’, ‘South Australian Ceramics Awards’ pages 62 & 63
2011 - ‘Marie Claire Maison Magazine, Paris’ Mar/Apr 2011. ‘Inspirations, Folles alvéoles’ page 116
2010 - ‘Vogue Living’. Nov/Dec 2010, ‘Arts and Events’ page 118
2010 - 'Monument Magazine, 108 Edition, ‘Light and Day’ page 106
2007 - 'The Journal of Australian Ceramics', Issue 47#3 2007. "Telling Tales, Recent Work by Adelaide's Clay Collective" page 97
Grants/Awards/Residencies
2016 – Awarded Certificate of Excellence, Arts Craft International Award
2015 – Nominated for Arts Craft International Award http://www.acd-award.com/
2012 – Finalist in the 2012 SALA Advertiser Award
2011 – Award: SALA 2011 JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Award
2010 – Grant: Received by Arts SA for project: Presentation of ‘Made in SA’ at Carbon Black’
2010 – Award: ‘South Australian Ceramics Awards’, Art Gallery of South Australia Acquisition Prize, Adelaide Central School of Art, Norwood, SA
· 2009 – Grant: Received by Arts SA to attend 2009 Australian Ceramics Triennial in Sydney