2023 Shelly Simpson Ceramics Prize – Winners Announced

Created in 2020 by Mud Australia Founder and Creative Director Shelley Simpson, the Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize was conceived to support the next generation of Australian ceramicists. 

‘Visual arts are an integral part of our culture and overall social wellbeing. This sector has long been under-valued and poorly funded. With no change in sight, it’s up to individuals and businesses with the foresight and capital to step up and do what they can to reverse the decline,’ says Shelley Simpson. 

This year’s first prize recipient is Cassie Hansen for her architecture wall tablet series, seeing her receive a $10,000 cash prize in addition to a mentor-mentee relationship with Shelley Simpson. Cassie’s ceramics portfolio is centred on midfire and stoneware vessels and objects, which combine wheel-thrown and hand-built elements. 

‘Sometimes when you’re alone in your studio creating pieces, you become unsure of yourself and the work. To have someone like Shelley recognise my ceramics and believe in it enough to bestow this year’s prize is overwhelming, wonderful and a real honour,’ Cassie Hansen says. 

Cassie’s architecture wall tablet series is inspired by the ancient clay tablets of the Mesopotamia period of 3200BC. The hand carved shapes in Cassie’s work are made to resemble site plans of villages, elevations or a collection of material palettes used by architects and designers. 

“Sometimes when you’re alone in your studio creating pieces, you become unsure of yourself and the work. To have someone like Shelley recognise my ceramics and believe in it enough to bestow this year’s prize is overwhelming, wonderful and a real honour. ”

“Sometimes when you’re alone in your studio creating pieces, you become unsure of yourself and the work. To have someone like Shelley recognise my ceramics and believe in it enough to bestow this year’s prize is overwhelming, wonderful and a real honour. ”