Mark Mitchell

Mark grew up in a creative environment where he was always curious to see what his father had been inventing in his studio. His background in ceramics began in 1996 when he was initially working in commercial pottery in Auckland, and then self-employed as a slip caster for two years.

He studied Fine Arts at Wanganui Quay School of Art, completing his final year of the degree at Otago Polytechnic School of Art in 2001. From 2002 to 2005 he was employed as Pottery Tutor at Hungry Creek Art School, Auckland.  There he continued to develop mould-making and throwing skills, slab-building processes, and surface treatments using terra sigillata, decals, enamels, and screen printing.

Mark was chosen to represent NZ as an emergent artist at the Fule International Ceramic Museums in China in 2007. In 2009 he was the recipient of a three-month residency in Shigaraki Cultural Ceramic Park, Japan, awarded by the Japan Foundation, Sydney. 

Mark has won many awards, including the Waiheke Small Sculpture Awards Merit Award 2020, Portage Ceramic Awards Premier Award 2019, OBJECTive Art Awards Premier Award 2008, Portage Ceramic Awards Merit Award 2006, Portage Ceramic Awards Mention of Excellence 2003. He now works from his studio in Haruru, Northland.