Phillipa Durkin

Artist information

Phillipa Durkin is a Wellington-based artist working in ceramics. She studied ceramics, printmaking and photography at the Chelsea College of Art, London, 1993-95, and art conservation at the Camberwell College of Art, 1995-97, attaining a BA (Hons) in Conservation. She returned to New Zealand in 1999 to take up the position of Conservator, works on paper, for The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

She now works from her Courtenay Place Studio - Phillipa Durkin - Conservator, works on paper - www.conservatorworksonpaper.com

Phillipa Durkin sailing Loloma on Wellington Harbour. Image courtesy of Stuff.co.nz

She was a selected finalist in the 2004 Portage Awards (for ceramics), and her work's subsequent exhibition in Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland, marked the beginning of a serious interest in working with ceramics as a sculpture medium. Her work has largely been themed around New Zealand's history of whaling, sealing, and other bloody industrial pursuits of the 19th and early 20th centuries. A seven-month wintering-over period in Antarctica in 2007, spent working on conserving objects in Shackleton's hut, provided further inspiration and an expansion of the theme of her work.

Another interest is sailing. Phillipa owns and sails the classic yacht Loloma, a 28-footer built in 1909.  She is involved in Wellington's Classic Yacht Trust, a group that acquires old boats and restores them to seaworthiness.
Watch 'Weekend Warriors' video.

Photo from 'Looking North'

Exhibitions

2012    Channeling Tory; the early colonial view - Gilberd                 Marriott Gallery, Wellington (with Denise Durkin)

2010    Tohora/Whales – The Suter Gallery, Nelson
             (group show)

2010    Objectspace, Auckland - Shore party installation                 (window display)            
  
2010    Portage Ceramic Awards – Lopdell House Gallery
            (group show)

2010    Ceramics & works on paper, Gilberd Marriott Gallery,             Wellington (with Denise Durkin)
               
2009    Portage Ceramic Awards – Lopdell House Gallery
            Merit Award winner
                   
2009    Group Show – Gilberd Marriott Gallery
            Four ceramic works relating to Shackleton’s hut

2008    Portage Ceramic Awards – Lopdell House Gallery
            Merit Award winner

2008    North Facing – photographs from Scott Base,                         Antarctica, Photospace Gallery, Wellington
        
2006     From the body of a whale - Culture – Ea Gallery
             (group show)

2006     Portage Ceramic Awards – Lopdell House Gallery
             Selected Finalist
                      
2006      Natural Selection II - Waiheke Community Art                       Gallery Ceramic invitational (group show)

2006      Winter / Over – Lopdell House Gallery, Auckland

2005      Portage Ceramic Awards – Lopdell House Gallery
              Emergent Artist Award

2004       Portage Ceramic Awards – Lopdell House Gallery                Selected finalist.

Installation photo, Channelling Tory; the early colonial view, Gilberd Marriott Gallery, 2012

Installation photo, Gilberd Marriott Gallery 2009

Phillipa Durkin, from Ceramics & works on paper, 2010 - Blanket Pieces - Glazed stoneware, decals, rope, stainless steel.

Phillipa Durkin, from Ceramics & works on paper, 2010- installation photo

Whales' teeth, from Ceramics & works on paper - installation photo