“I enjoy the science involved in crafting an artwork.”
Mel Ford graduated from Ilam in 1989 and has worked as an arts educator and facilitator in a variety of creative spaces for more than 30 years.
Wishing to contribute to the conversation surrounding contemporary ceramic practice in Aotearoa and beyond, Mel has been a regular contributor to the Portage Ceramic Awards for many years. In association with this annual event, she has been awarded The Medalta Artist’s Residency Award, a Merit Award and an honourable mention.
Her work was included in Slip Cast – A Survey of Contemporary Ceramic Practice at the Dowse Art Museum and forms part of the permanent collection at the Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics in Whanganui.
With an interest in working with clay and ceramics at the interface between the natural and manufactured worlds, she has often incorporated discarded ceramic waste into her work. Exploring the idea that change is constant, her work bears witness to the effect of time and other forces upon the material.
In a quest to capture more specific moments of time, Mel has begun to incorporate glass as a component in her work.
Most recently, Mel has been invited to travel to the porcelain capital of the world Jingdezhen, China to take part in an international exchange of contemporary ceramic practice. Mel was the recipient of the People’s Choice Award in the Portage Ceramic Awards for 2025.
For enrolled students, check the calendar for scheduled Artist in Residence availability.
