Vicki Charles is a talented ceramic sculptor originally from Melbourne, Australia but now settled in her beautiful home in The Wood, Nelson, New Zealand - which includes a small gallery and a fully equipped studio.
“My challenge with my sculpture is turn that lump of mud into the light, aliveness,
peace and stillness reflected in the eyes of myself and the people l meet on my path of life”
Vicki explores her emotional connectedness to humanity in her sculpture. Finding inspiration through the words of philosophers and spiritual teachers like Rumi, who speak of love and compassion; as well as from inner journeys,
symbolism and dreams. Each unique piece is sculpted by hand and moulded to shape delicately and skillfully at
Vicki’s studio using ceramic clay.
Vicki is also a skilled tutor and loves sharing her wealth of knowledge with others. She enjoys watching them learn technical skills and then seeing their creativity come to life in something formed by their own hands.
Vicki Charles Background
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 traveled around Australia and the world, including Europe, which was where she first really discovered art in all it’s 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.
Education:
2020 Awarded scholarship, The Learning Connextion, Wellington. NZ
New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (NZQA Level 6) Completed November 2021
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:
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
2010 | Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
2009 | Bulleen Art Gallery, Bulleen Australia
2006, 2007, 2008 |Birds Gallery, Kew Australia
2001 | Box Hill Community Center, Box Hill Australia
1995 | Victorian Artist Society East Melbourne Australia
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 November | "We are all Connected" The Suter Gallery, Nelson NZ
Juried Selection and Awards
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 Exhibtion”,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
Galleries Past/Present:
Manyung Gallery Melbourne Australia
Ora Gallery Wellington NZ
The Art Shed Napier NZ
Arty Nelson, Nelson NZ
The Suter Gallery Nelson NZ
Art Matakana Gallery, Matakana, NZ
Arty Nelson, Nelson NZ
Black Door Gallery, Parnell Auckland NZ
Parker Gallery, Nelson NZ
Gravity Gallery, Mahana NZ
Quirky Fox, Hawera NZ
Origin Gallery, Nelson NZ
Central Art Gallery, Queenstown NZ
Commissioned Sculpture Australian Clients
Private NZ Art collector
Tutor Sculpture
Vicki Charles Sculptor Studio
NMIT Nelson NZ
Nelson women’s Center
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
Publications
2019 -https://issuu.com/studiosnz/docs/issue_5_creative_nelson pages 12-13
2020 - @artcollective_nz
2021 -Selected to feature in “Perpetual Garden 2022 calendar”
2022 -https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/127873438/sculpting-a-career-in-art