Amelia Black
Ceramic Projects
Design & Publications
Biography
CV
Biography
Subsequently relocating to New York City from 2008 to 2020, Amelia Black pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design Criticism at the School of Visual Arts in 2010, where they developed original research into the sensory experiences of physical objects & spaces, writing a thesis entitled “Design Smells: Odourous Rhetoric in Embodied Experience.” Parallel to Black's academic endeavours, collaborations with luminaries such as Natalie Jeremijenko’s xClinic, George Trakas, Arup’s Foresight & Innovation team, the Noguchi Museum, and IDEO.org underscore their multifaceted engagement with the intersectionality of design, art, and innovation. While in New York, Black also co-founded a community ceramics facility called Studio Ana with her co-founder, Aliza Simons.
Since 2020, Amelia Black has established residence in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, marking a significant shift in their creative focus. Here, they have undertaken a practice-based research approach to ceramic technology, delving into a scholarly exploration exploring clay and ceramic materials, with a focus on unravelling the intricacies of materials and historical craft technology. Black endeavours to unlock opportunities for responsible mineral-based artistic expression within the context of our current environmental crisis. This pursuit is guided by an understanding of material supply chains, a commitment to more sustainable studio practices, and a vision for a more regenerative model of making.
Amelia was a finalist for the 2024 inaugural Mornington Peninsula Contemporary Art Prize. Her work has been exhibited at Craft Victoria and featured in collaborative projects such as Bulk Buy: Alternative Ceramic Supply at the 2023 Craft Contemporary festival, Melbourne Now at the National Gallery of Victoria, and Who is Afraid of Public Space? at the Australian Contemporary Art Centre. Their writing and research have been published in the Journal for Australian Ceramics and Garland Magazine, and they have contributed as a public speaker to programs at Craft Victoria and a part of Melbourne Design Week. An emerging voice in the Australian contemporary ceramic’s scene, Amelia is excited to present their research at the 2025 Ceramics Triennial in Fremantle, WA.
© Jules Gianakos, 2016