ABOUT VICKI CHARLES

Beneath the mask. Ceramic sculpture by Vicki Charles, ceramic artist based in Nelson, New Zealand

Vicki sells her work through galleries, nationally and internationally-Australia.

Vicki Charles is a ceramic sculptor originally from Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne, and now resident in New Zealand. A New Zealand citizen since 2022, Vicki works from her fully-equipped studio in Nelson, renowned for its pottery and ceramic art. She sells her work through galleries in New Zealand and in her home country, Australia.
Vicki studied art at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and, for 20 years, under the tutorage of Klaus Dusselberg, who shaped her love for the human figure, working in clay. https://www.instagram.com/klausdusselberg/
For Vicki, sculpting is about connecting our modern human experience with the wisdom of ancient civilisations and the mythological stories of our ancestors.
With each moulding of the clay, Vicki explores powerful themes that are both deeply personal and profoundly universal; of ancient mythology, Goddesses (Divine Feminine) andsymbols that weave together stories to help us to navigate this changing earth and existence.
“Through my art I explore seeds of truth that are common between timeless civilisations seemingly spread far and wide across time and space."

Background

Vicki Charles sculptor, ceramic artist based in Nelson, New Zealand

Growing up in Melbourne Vicki was immersed in culture and art from a young age which fueled her intrinsic creative nature. After leaving school she travelled around Australia and the world, including Europe, which was where she first really discovered art in all its glory and was inspired to pursue a creative profession.

In 2015 a life-changing personal event became the catalyst for Vicki finally finding her sculpture style and what she wanted to say in her works. Her direction in life shifted and so did she, to Nelson to pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist.

Artist CV

Education
2021 Awarded scholarship, The Learning Connexion, Wellington. NZ
New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (NZQA Level 6)
Research Interests: Visual Arts, Pastels, Oil Painting, Sculpture, Anatomy,
Composition.

1994 Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
Associate Diploma of Arts
Research Interests: Visual Arts, Drawing

Group Exhibitions
2023 March |Nelson Suter Art society, The Suter Gallery ‘Spring Exhibition’
2022 December |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Summer Exhibition’
2022 September |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Spring Exhibition’
2021 December |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Summer Exhibition’
2020 December |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Summer Exhibition’
2020 October |Orakei School, Auckland NZ
2020 October |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Spring Exhibition’
2019 October |Orakei School, Auckland NZ
2020 July |Riversdale Art Online Exhibition, Riversdale NZ
2019 September | Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Spring Exhibition’
2019 March |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Autumn Exhibition’
2019 February |‘The Lovers Exhibition’ Black Asterisk, Auckland NZ
2018 September |Finalist NZ 59th Ceramicists Exhibition Wellington, NZ
2018 May |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘More is More’ Nelson NZ
2018 March |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Autumn Exhibition’
2018 February |Top of the South Ceramists Exhibition at the Suter, Nelson
2018 January |Gallery 55, Nelson, NZ
2017 November |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Summer Exhibition’
2017 November |Craft Potters Gallery, Annual Exhibition
2017 August |Nelson Suter Art Society, The Suter Gallery ‘Spring Exhibition’
2017 June |Nelson Suter Art Society Suter Group Exhibition ‘Together’
2016 December |Nelson Community Potters, Nelson New Zealand

Solo Exhibitions
2019 November | ‘We are all Connected’ The Suter Gallery, Nelson NZ

Juried Selection and Awards
2023| Finalist for 9th Annual Hibiscus and Bay Art Award, Auckland
2023| Finalist for Franklin Arts Prize
2023| Finalist for the Richard T Nelson Award, Wellington
2022| March Finalist for Richard T Nelson Award, Wellington
2022 March | Finalist 8th Hibiscus & Bays Art Awards, Auckland
2021 December| Selected for Top of South Ceramists Exhibition, The Suter Gallery, Nelson. NZ
2021| Finalist for the Small Sculpture Award, Waiheke Island
2021| Finalist for the Richard T Nelson Award Wellington
2021| Finalist for the Lysaght Watt Trust Award Hawera
2021| Finalist for Diamond Jubilee 60th National Exhibition Dunedin
2021| Finalist for Kumeu Arts Awards
2019 November| Selected Top of the South Ceramists Exhibition, The Suter Gallery, Nelson, NZ
2018 August| Selected as finalist for the Ceramics NZ 59th National Exhibition
2018 March| Craft Potters Mike Rodgers Award, Runner up, Sculpture Category, Hope NZ
2017 December |Selected The Suter Gallery ‘Fire & Earth, Body & Bone Exhibition’ Nelson. NZ

Vicki Charles Sculptor

Private NZ Art collectors
2022 | ‘Trinity and the Green Rain’ purchased by a major NZ private art collector,
Christopher Parkin
2023 | ‘Song of Symbols Flow’ purchased by a major NZ private art collector.

Commissioned Sculpture Australian Clients

Galleries Current
Monica Art Gallery Sorrento Melbourne Australia

Hokitika Galley Hokitika New Zealand
Arty Nelson, Nelson NZ
The Suter Gallery Nelson NZ

Galleries Former

Manyung Gallery | Melbourne, Australia
Black Door Gallery, Parnell Auckland NZ

The Art Shed Napier NZ

Art Matakana Gallery, Matakana, NZ

Ora Gallery Wellington NZ
Parker Gallery, Nelson NZ
Gravity Gallery, Mahana NZ
Quirky Fox, Hawera NZ
Central Art Gallery, Queenstown NZ

Tutor Sculpture
Vicki Charles Sculptor Studio
NMIT Nelson NZ
Nelson women’s Centre
Nelson Community Potters Nelson NZ
Craft Potters Hope NZ

Voluntary Positions
Treasurer, Nelson Suter Art Society
Treasurer, Arts Council, Nelson
Treasurer and Secretary, Nelson Italian Club, Club Italia

Promotional
2023 - https://nelsonapp.co.nz/news/nelson-sculptor-up-for-national-award
2022 - https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/127873438/sculpting-a-career-in-art
2021 - Selected to feature in ‘Perpetual Garden 2022 calendar’
2020 - @artcollective_nz

2020- https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/300174059/art-society's-Christmas-exhibition-
not-your-normal-art-show

2019 - https://issuu.com/studiosnz/docs/issue_5_creative_nelson pages