John Shirley

John matriculated from Johannesburg School of Art. In 1972 he studied glaze technology under Francis Mortimer and later Ceramic Science with Hans Boyum in 1974. He participated in a background/foreground course with Suzette Munnik in 1996 and completed his B Tech at the Technikon Witwatersrand (now University of Johannesburg)

John taught ceramics on an informal basis from 1975-2000. He lectured Ceramic Science and Ceramic Practice at the Technikon Witwatersrand from 2001 until 2003. He is currently employed as the programme leader in Ceramic Design at the University of Johannesburg.               

John has exhibitied in a wide range of exhibitions including one at the South African Embassy in Japan, focusing on Crystal Glazes (1980). More recently he was a participant in Past Students, Present Work (An exhibition of alumni work at the Association of arts Gallery, Pretoria 2004), the Long Walk To…… (Rau Gallery 2005), the Staff Exhibition@ UJ (2007) as well as many other Regional and National Exhibitions.

He holds a string of ‘Highly Commendeds’ at various National Ceramic Biennales including a notable Highly Commended on Brickor exhibition of 1974. He was the recipient of the Tim Morris Bursary Award 2002/3, the National Arts Council Award Celebrating Ceramics in 2004 as well as the PSMO Award for Reflections in Clay, 2005

Information courtesy of the artist.