John Gisborne has been working in clay for over 20 years. He started his craft with his mother who was also a clay worker and ran a pottery business. In the 1980’s he worked with Alan Vickers at Mt Maunganui followed by a period with the Waikato Society of Potters as a resident potter. He had his own studio in Hamilton for two years and for five years worked with the famous Barry Brickell at Driving Creek Railway and Potteries. John also worked in Scotland at Glasgow Ceramics before returning to New Zealand and taking up residence at the Waiohiki Creative Arts Village in Napier and being and member of the Taradale Club.

John is passionate about wood firing his sculptural forms, and enjoys the link to the tradition of his craft and the unique effects from flame and ash that are created during the course of a wood firing. Besides producing a range of domestic and decorative pottery John’s current work involves sculptural garden and water features which are predominantly inspired and informed by ideas of the organic and feminine.

John Gisborne works at Gallery Te Puna include decorative and sculptural pottery.