Working from a warm, sun-filled space in the midst of Melbourne's most unique creative hub, Cone 11 Ceramics have established themselves as makers of high quality and original ceramics. Drawing on their palette of subtle surfaces that range from shimmering pearly white porcelains to rich encrusted terracottas, each piece, whether it be functional or sculptural, is characterised by the distinctive mark of the craftsman's hand. The studio practice offers a rare opportunity for the public to browse works for sale direct from a freshly fired kiln or watch a new piece spring to life from the centre of an ever spinning wheel.

 

Ilona Topolcsanyi

Before finding her ultimate calling as a ceramic artist, Ilona Topolcsanyi ventured down a number of career paths – dental nurse, masseuse, acupuncturist, call centre manager and travel agent, just to name a few. But a humble pottery class changed all that.  Initially attracted to the utilitarian, tactile nature of the craft, pottery offered Ilona the magical combination of practicality and creativity. Consequently, clay has now been her lifeblood for more than 13 years. Ilona helped establish a ceramic studio co-operative, completed a Diploma of Arts Ceramics at Box Hill TAFE where she was named Student of the Year and has travelled extensively through Asia and Europe researching her craft. Her travels included an artist residence program at the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemét, Hungary.

 

Colin Hopkins

As an architect, Colin Hopkins has always been fascinated with light and how much it can change the quality of space. But on a trip to Japan in 2006 he discovered the transcendent beauty of hand-crafted porcelain and it forged a new career path entirely. Colin took a hands-on approach when he returned, worshipping his love of light by signing up for a 2 year ceramics course at Box Hill Institute. Since then he has launched his own brand of hand crafted ceramic luminaires, PORCELUME. Colin has perfected the art of hand‐throwing porcelain extremely thin so that the objects he makes have a singing translucency.