Meet the Maker

Gallery Officer Jenny Hunter visits ceramicist Lyndel Henry of Henry & Tunks at her studio in Rutherford.

Can you tell me a little bit about your creative journey and how your interest in ceramics came about?

Sure! I became interested in ceramics at quite a young age and chose it as a subject in high school. After school I did admin at TAFE but soon realised I didn’t want to work in an office, so I completed Advanced Diplomas in both Fine Arts and Ceramics. I then did a four-year Industrial Design degree, after which I worked as an Industrial Design lecturer in the School of Architecture for ten years. I still think of myself as a designer rather than an artist.

How would you describe your work’s aesthetic?

I’d call it soft minimalism: muted colours, clean outlines, no unnecessary ornamentation.

What inspires you when you create new pieces? Sometimes it’s about what I need or would like to have. But I also talk to customers at markets; their requests for certain things may influence what I produce. I try not to look too much at other people’s work as I don’t want to feel like I am copying anything, but I do spend ages on Instagram looking at textures, shapes and details – such as in fabrics, architecture or organic forms – for inspiration. Where does ‘Tunks’ come from in your brand name?

No one has really asked me that before! Olga Tunks was my father’s mother. I spent a lot of time with her as a child; she was a strong and capable woman who told me stories and encouraged my creativity, and even let me clear out part of her shed so I could make my first studio.

How have you adapted to cope with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic? I was actually busier than ever during 2020; the wholesale-side of my business trebled! Lockdown also pushed me to finally buy a 3D printer, which allows for great design accuracy and the addition of certain details. It isn’t quicker but is a lot less messy than carving an initial form out of plaster! Do you have plans for any new directions in the near future?

I’d like to focus more on architectural pieces rather than small homewares, which were ideal when I was starting out and going to markets, and I’d like to do more ‘investment pieces’ for interior design work. I’m also exploring more environmentally friendly ways of producing my work. A selection of Henry & Tunks ceramics is stocked in the Gallery Shop 5 essential Christmas gifts from MRAG

Spoil someone special with a unique artisan gift from the Gallery Shop. 1. A timber board (below), handcrafted in the Hunter Valley by Joel and Matt from The Woodshed from $60

2. An exquisite leather handbag (below), made in Maitland by artisans Bob and Annie Dennerley of Dennerley Leather Designs RRP $95

3. A unique silver piece (middle), inspired by the beauty of nature, by contemporary jeweller and artist Amanda Charge from $165

4. A luxurious silk and cotton handwoven wrap (below), dyed and painted by textile artist Ellen Howell RRP $155

5. A simple and functional planter (left), designed with longevity in mind, by Lyndel of Henry & Tunks from $170