Uncovering the Invisible Hands: Kristin Burgham’s Sculptural Journey in Clay
people • artists
Kristin Burgham is a Melbourne-based ceramicist renowned for her innovative fusion of industrial ceramic production techniques and found objects. Her meticulously crafted works result from extensive experimentation and research into the act of making, often highlighting the working lines of unknown creators. Burgham earned her Fine Art degree from RMIT in 2019, and her pieces are featured in esteemed public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the Shepparton Art Museum, and the Yarrila Arts Museum. Her sculptural creations, characterized by a playful nature imbued with memory, have been showcased in prominent exhibitions such as "Legacy" at Craft Victoria and "Presence" at Stockroom Kyneton Gallery.
WEBSITE: kristinburgham.com INSTAGRAM: @kristinburgham
Words: designeers
MARCH 2025
DESIGNEERS
What drew you to clay as your medium of choice, and how has it shaped your creative identity?
Kristin Burgham
I grew up in New Zealand, where I was aware of ‘makers' from a young age. I remember visiting a friend of my mother’s who had a weaving loom. Another lived on a property once owned by a potter, so there were pots everywhere. My mother was a teacher, and we did lots of things that involved making. As a teenager, my family moved to Australia, and the high school I attended had a clay room. I spent many lunchtimes in the room playing with clay. Even though I was drawn to clay as a young person, it was many years before I had the space and resources to really immerse myself and come back to a clay practice. I needed to find my way to it and find my way to work with it. It took time.
DESIGNEERS
How would you describe your artistic style to someone discovering your work for the first time?
Kristin Burgham
My work is sculptural. While my work is not traditional, it is based on traditional industrial ceramic processes. I use plaster moulds to make my work. But unlike a traditional ceramic factory production line, I use a single plaster mould for my pieces. Once that mould is finished, I no longer make a particular item. In a factory, when a mould has reached the end of its life, it is renewed with another exactly the same. My works reveal unknown makers of objects by revealing the making lines or seams of a piece.
DESIGNEERS
How does living in Melbourne influence your work? Are there specific places, experiences, or even memories from the city that inspire you?
Kristin Burgham
Melbourne is a great city, and I love how many old buildings and blue stone laneways still exist. I also love the sound of the trams. It is a city that values creative people, and there is always a gallery to visit or something to see. I have lived in Melbourne for seven years; prior to that, I lived in Sydney and Hong Kong. I am always looking at the objects that people discard, so no matter where I am, I am inspired when I find odd things.
DESIGNEERS
What’s a piece of art, design, or object in your own home that you absolutely treasure, and why?
Kristin Burgham
My son painted a self-portrait when he was a moody teenager–it is so perfect. It is a treasured piece of Art in our home
“My works reveal unknown makers of objects by revealing the making lines or seams of a piece.”
Kristin Burgham
DESIGNEERS
If you could have dinner with any artist or designer—living or historical—who would it be, and what would you want to ask them?
Kristin Burgham
There are so many! Rachel Whiteread (UK): I would ask her about how she was able to keep making and being optimistic after her work at HOUSE. I would also ask her lots of questions about her casting process, as I love making moulds and casting
DESIGNEERS
What’s a guilty pleasure or personal indulgence that helps you recharge creatively?
Kristin Burgham
I do lots of digging and thinking at my garden allotment to recharge creatively. I also love riding my bicycle to the studio; it gives me more time to think about things I am working on. If I need a pick-me-up, I indulge in dark chocolate, and I drink copious amounts of tea.
DESIGNEERS
If you could collaborate with any artist, designer, or brand, who would it be and why?
Kristin Burgham
Hella Jongerius is a Dutch industrial designer who I have admired for many years. She is innovative and surprising in her approach to materials and processes. Jongerius spends time experimenting in so many surprising ways. She is very original. I admire that greatly. I am also a fan of the work of the Granby Ceramic Workshop in Liverpool. They celebrate experimentation and happenstance in ceramics. They have outstanding products, and they build communities. A fantastic combination that deserves to be celebrated.
