Tēnā koutou e ngā hau e whā Nō Tiamana oku tūpuna I whānau mai ahau i reira Nō Whangārei ahau Kei Mahana ahau e noho ana Ko Reiner Kuske taku ingoa E kī ana te whakataukī: “Ko au te whenua, ko te whenua ko au” Nō reira, Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa
Clay as a Second Journey
After more than forty-five years as a dispensing optician, I discovered clay almost by accident. What began as curiosity gradually became a new way of seeing the world. Today, ceramics is less about creating finished objects than about exploring ideas through making.
I work from my studio in Mahana, near Nelson, Aotearoa New Zealand, building vessels and sculptural forms by hand using coil and slab techniques. I enjoy allowing each piece to evolve slowly, responding to the clay rather than forcing it towards a predetermined outcome. The process is as important to me as the finished work.
Surface, Form and Discovery
Much of my work explores the relationship between form and surface. I am drawn to layered textures, subtle colour, and the quiet qualities of materials such as terra sigillata, slips and oxides. These surfaces invite people to look closely, discovering details that may not reveal themselves at first glance.
Rather than working within a single style, I see each collection as an opportunity to investigate a different question. Some pieces are inspired by geological processes, others by memory, landscape, Japanese aesthetics, or my own ongoing learning. Together they form an evolving conversation with clay.
Learning Through Making
One of the things I value most about ceramics is that there is always more to learn. Every firing brings surprises, every new material opens another possibility, and every conversation with other makers offers a fresh perspective.
That curiosity has led me to travel throughout Japan to visit pottery towns, museums and studios, learning from traditions that have developed over centuries while continuing to find my own voice as a maker.
Place, People and Clay
Although I spend many hours working alone in the studio, ceramics has introduced me to an extraordinary community of generous makers, teachers and friends. In 2026 I am honoured to be selected for the Hiroshima INAKA Artist Residency in rural Japan, where I hope to spend time with local people, experience everyday life, and deepen my understanding of Japanese ceramic culture.
For me, the residency is not simply about producing new work. It is about listening, observing and allowing new experiences to influence the direction of my practice.
An Invitation
I don’t think of ceramics as a destination, but as an ongoing journey of exploration. Every piece teaches me something new, and every collection marks another step along that path.
Whether you have come here because you enjoy contemporary ceramics, handbuilt pottery, ceramic sculpture, or simply have a curiosity about clay, I hope these pages encourage you to slow down, look closely, and discover something that resonates with you.
Start exploring some of my work here: