Peter Rushforth b. 4 December 1920

  • Artist (Ceramist)
Peter Rushforth's pots are a synthesis of European and Japanese aesthetic influences. He came to an appreciation of the Japanese Mingei (folk) aesthetic in unusual circumstances as a prisoner of war in Singapore during the 1939-45 War. Later he became one of the nation's most influential ceramics teachers.
Tags: Woodfired stoneware, Influence of Japan, Zen, Prisoner of War, Mingei
You are viewing the version of bio from July 17, 2021, 2:13 p.m. , as edited by Joanna Mendelssohn (moderator approved).
Revert to this revision Go to current record
Name
Peter Rushforth
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Ceramist)
Other Occupation
  • Soldier (ANZSIC code: 760) c.1940 - 1945 8th Division, AIF
  • Teacher Ceramics (ANZSIC code: 810) 1950 - East Sydney Technical College, Sydney, NSW
Tags:
Woodfired stoneware
Influence of Japan
Zen
Prisoner of War
Mingei
Birth date
4 December 1920
Birth place
Manly, NSW
Death date
22 July 2015
Active Period
  • c.1946 -
Residence
  • 1920 - c.1940 Manly, NSW
  • c.1942 - c.1945 Changi POW Camp, Singapore, Malaya (Also on the Burma Thailand railway)
  • c.1946 - c.1950 Melbourne, Vic.
  • 1951 - c.1978 Sydney, NSW
  • c.1978 - 2015 Shipley, Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
Training
  • Pottery, c.1946 - c.1949 Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Vic.
  • Pottery workshops, 1963 Japan
Initial Record Data Source
  • Powerhouse Museum

Difference between this version and previous

Field This Version Previous Version
Date modified July 17, 2021, 2:13 p.m. July 17, 2021, 2:10 p.m.
References [<ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Jar by Peter Rushforth', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Jackie Menzies (24 April 1976), 'Project 13: The Calligraphic Image'.>, <ExternalResource: Hood, Kenneth, Thompson, Douglas & Garnsey, Wanda (1972). Australian pottery. Macmillan, South Melbourne, Vic>, <ExternalResource: Howlin, Jan (August 2011), 'The whole man – the life and work of Peter Rushforth'. In Journal of Australian Ceramics, 51 (1), 30-40. Reprinted as a web feature article on the Australian Ceramics Association website.>, <ExternalResource: Peter Rushforth (9 May 1963), 'Peter Rushforth interviewed by Hazel de Berg'.>, <ExternalResource: John Freeland. "Peter Rushforth." obituary. Sydney Morning Herald, 11 August 2015, p.35.>, <ExternalResource: Van de Ven, Anne-Marie “Vale Peter Rushforth”>] [<ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Jar by Peter Rushforth', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Jackie Menzies (24 April 1976), 'Project 13: The Calligraphic Image'.>, <ExternalResource: Hood, Kenneth, Thompson, Douglas & Garnsey, Wanda (1972). Australian pottery. Macmillan, South Melbourne, Vic>, <ExternalResource: Howlin, Jan (August 2011), 'The whole man – the life and work of Peter Rushforth'. In Journal of Australian Ceramics, 51 (1), 30-40. Reprinted as a web feature article on the Australian Ceramics Association website.>, <ExternalResource: Peter Rushforth (9 May 1963), 'Peter Rushforth interviewed by Hazel de Berg'.>, <ExternalResource: John Freeland. "Peter Rushforth." obituary. Sydney Morning Herald, 11 August 2015, p.35.>]