Sarah Fraser (b. 1980, Pretoria, RSA) is an artist interested in relationships between people and clay as a material within social, environmental and political contexts. She draws inspiration from forms in vernacular architectural in Stoke and Manchester, and explores aspects of the everyday through process-led enquiries. Fraser’s work makes use of reclaimed waste clay and explores how it can be transformed with energy and attention into a vehicle for expression and transformation.
Education & Training
2010 Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Westminster, London
2008 BA Visual Arts, University of South Africa, Pretoria
Selected Shows & Projects
2024 Tactile Community, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
Recast Clay talk, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
Reclaim, Manchester Ceramics Collective, Manchester
2023 Tactile Project Space, British Ceramics Biennial 2023
Reclaim YMCA, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
Living Garden, Spode Rose Garden, Stoke-on-Trent
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair x MCC, Victoria Baths, Manchester
2022 Slip Trail, British Ceramics Biennial x Middleport Matters, Stoke-on-Trent
Gathering, Etruria Canals Festival, Stoke-on-Trent
RECLAIM: LGBT + Mental Health, North Midlands LGBT Older Peoples Group
RECLAIM: video screening, Pride, Stoke-on-Trent
Waste Clay Ceramics Commission, WTLGI, Stockport
Clayworks, British Ceramics Biennial x Starfish, Stoke-on-Trent
Recast, Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
2021 Journey Lines Coping Stones, British Ceramics Biennial 21, Stoke-on-Trent
Fern Bricks, Portland In Project x British Ceramics Biennial 21, Stoke-on-Trent
Decarbonise your house now! Cladding and Reclaim screening, Editional Studio, Manchester
2020 Clayworks, British Ceramics Biennial x ABLE, Stoke-on-Trent
Making Spaces, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
Pause Return Transform, Clay Comrades x Urban Wilderness, Stoke-on-Trent
TIARA TANAH, West Java West Yorkshire Cooperative Movement, Jaitwangi and Leeds
Portland Inn Fellowship, Airspace Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
Beyond Measure, Leeds Cultural Institute, Online
2019 Cultural Icons, British Ceramics Biennial 19, Stoke-on-Trent
Clay Works, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent
Production Line, Engagement space, British Ceramics Biennial 19, Stoke-on-Trent
Plates x SiopShop, Siop Shop, Manchester
Clayworks, British Ceramics Biennial x Changes, Stoke-on-Trent
2018 Hepworth Wakefield Ceramics Fair, The Hepworth, Wakefield
2013 Living numbers, Fringe Arts Bath, Bath
2006 Petit Petitions, MuseumAfrica, Johannesburg
2005 Unravelled, Ansister Creative Constellation Festival, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
2004 ABSA Atelier Awards, Johannesburg
Journey to Freedom, UNISA, Pretoria and Mississippi
Unravelled, UNISA, Pretoria
2003 Unplugged, UNISA, Potchefstroom
Awards & Residencies
2020 Real World Ceramics: Crafting Futures, West Java West Yorkshire Co-operative Movement, Pavilion - Leeds x Jatiwangi art Factory
Emerging Genius Scholarship, Dr Wendy Gers, Ceramics Coach, International
2003 Finalist, ABSA L’Atelier - South African National Association for the Visual Arts, RSA
Articles & Features
2022 New Approaches with Ceramic Profile Extrusion, Dr Tavs Jorgensen, Sarah Fraser and Sonny Lightfoot (Co-author) presented at
Ceramics, Density and Intensity, X International Congress on Ceramics and Architecture, School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM)
2019 Through the Die: An Exploration into Clay Extrusion, Dr Tavs Jorgensen, UWE, Bristol, UK
Employment
Current Co-director, Manchester Ceramics Collective (since 2018)
Associate Artist, British Ceramics Biennial (since 2019)
2019 - 2022 Community and Studio Programme Manager, British Ceramics Biennial
2017 - 2020 Technician & Class Tutor, Clay Studio CIC, Manchester
2010 - 2017 Lecturer in Supported Learning, West Thames College, London
2005 - 2010 Lecturer and Learning Support assistant, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, London
Artist Facilitator, Brent Lodge Park Art Space, London