Iconic Australian Pottery Studio Joins Art Prize
The nation’s largest art prize is returning, and you can enter for free today! We’re thrilled to announce that Robert Gordon, a prominent Australian pottery brand with a heritage that spans three generations, will join this year’s Bluethumb Art Prize judging panel, with Creative Director Kate Gordon representing the family business. Keep reading to learn about the Gordon family’s longstanding love of pottery, Kate’s aptitude for creativity and her approach to art prize judging.
Kate Gordon is the Creative Director at Robert Gordon and a soon-to-be judge of this year’s Bluethumb Art Prize.
From Humble Beginnings to Pottery Prodigies
The Gordon family boasts a rich legacy, having been immersed in the world of ceramics for over seven decades. This journey commenced in 1945 when Kate’s grandmother, June Dyson, embarked on her pottery-making odyssey, establishing a modest studio with the help of her husband, Colin Gordon. Kate explains, “Our Dad, Robert, worked in pottery as a child and then as an adult, where he broke off and began his own business.”
By 1987, the enterprise had outgrown its humble beginnings. The Gordons purchased a factory, transforming Robert Gordon’s operation from a humble tin shed with a dirt floor into a spacious, purpose-built headquarters, complete with a popular outlet and cafe. The enduring passion for pottery, ignited by June Dyson, continues to flow through the family’s veins, with Kate elaborating, “We are three generations of potters, with me and my siblings—Hannah and Bobby—now running the pottery from our Pakenham workshop.”
A behind-the-scenes look at Robert Gordon’s Pakenham workshop.
“The earliest memory I have of belonging to a creative family was sitting on my Grandma’s studio’s stone steps as a four-year-old.” In this vivid recollection, she had run away from home, venturing through the bush to her grandma’s neighbouring property—a familiar childhood escapade for many. Instead of scolding her, her grandmother enlisted her help, tasking her with threading ceramic beads onto hanging mobiles. Kate cherishes this memory as a testament to her family’s nurturing creativity.
Robert Gordon and his wife Barbara, pictured with their children, Bobby, Kate, and Hannah.
Born into Pottery
Pottery has been a constant companion for Kate and her siblings since their earliest days. It was almost inevitable that they would embrace the family business. “Pottery is all we have ever known as children,” says Kate. “From as young as we can remember, we have been on the pottery floor.”
“We were born into the business, with our home on the same property as Mum and Dad’s first workshop. “The Robert Gordon Pottery business carried us through kinder, primary school, and high school….it was our first job, and indeed the job we returned to upon graduation from University.”
“After being immersed in the business for so long as children, it was unimaginable that we would want to do something else,” she says. “It is an addictive industry – so creative and surprising. Difficult and exciting.”
“We thrive on teamwork. No one works alone at the pottery, which is the absolute best part,” says Kate.
Concept & Collaboration
When asked about her favourite part of the creative process, Kate says it’s the initial development stages, where the team all come together and share ideas. “Creating new products always begins with the team; no one works alone at Robert Gordon. We take enormous pride in our collaborative work environment. So the brainstorming session is the most important part of the process,” says Kate.
“Ideas are workshopped and then handed over to our Head Designer, Brent May, to develop further. We then refine it as a group before sending it off to the relevant factory – be that our Pakenham workshop or our offshore factories.”
Robert Gordon’s pottery was once sold from a stall in St Kilda markets in Melbourne and is now exported worldwide.
“Inspiration for our designs comes from many different sources. We love listening to our customers and understanding what they want. We take enormous inspiration from the craft of pottery and are always exploring new techniques and finishes. And having grown up in the bush in Gembrook, we are most definitely inspired by the landscape around us.”
“We love that people use our pieces each and every day, and for that reason, we want to create long-lasting, high-quality, high-fired pieces,” says Kate.
The Timeless Appeal of Authenticity
Although Robert Gordon places a strong emphasis on maintaining stringent quality control standards, Kate has come to recognize that certain facets of the business defy regimentation and prediction. She recounts her initial foray into design, where she diligently pored over fashion prediction journals and tracked trends like “colours of the year,” firmly believing that this was the key to crafting sought-after pieces.
With experience, Kate has learnt that excessive forward-thinking can sometimes be counterproductive and that trends are best followed lightly. She has come to find that “Customers will connect with pieces that are crafted with honesty and warmth ahead of any trend.”
When it comes time to judge this year’s finalist Bluethumb Art Prize entries, Kate expresses her desire to unearth artworks that tell a story with depth and honesty. “I am looking for warm, authentic art, with a strong sense of self, that doesn’t rely too heavily on technique,” she explains.
Explore this week’s curation, Judges Picks: Kate Gordon, and discover artworks that showcase Kate’s unique taste.
Don’t delay your chance of winning a share of the $100,000 prize! Enter Bluethumb Art Prize for FREE before Monday September 11th.
