Viv Wright

Resides: Coochiemudlo Island, The Redlands

Viv Wright came to Australia from South Africa thirty-two years ago, with his wife Denise and their family.

Viv found himself drawn to pottery as he helped his wife, Denise with raku firings and building kilns during the 1980s. Over time, Viv became increasingly interested and intrigued by the creative and technical aspects of the craft, deciding to commence a three year course at Southbank TAFE.

Viv became a full-time potter when he and Denise established a studio and gallery on Coochiemudlo Island, where they produced and sold their work. After thirteen years their gallery is no longer open, but they continue with their love of clay and glazes and the never-ending challenges they bring.

Denise and Viv’s work has been presented at numerous venues, including Redland City Council Chambers, annually at the Redland Museum from 1999 to 2003 and also at the Redland Art Festival where they were featured artists. Viv and Denise were involved in the streetscaping project for Bloomfield Street and responsible for the Sands Hotel corner mural in conjunction with the Coochie Art Group. They were also co-ordinators of the Coochiemudlo Island Pioneer Park tile project.

Viv’s work reflects his interest in exploring form and surface. He is drawn to elegance of shape ­ both traditional and modern, and his surface decoration includes textured, matte and gloss glazes, through to lustres and crystalline.

Although Viv’s interests lie in a wide variety of work, for the Surrounds exhibition he has concentrated on iridescent lustres on a dark glaze, with gold bands or brushwork. The intricate glazing has required three or four firings.