I want to share with you where I grew up. A vast, open cropping farm near the town of Goomalling in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Over the next 12 months I am focusing on this environment for inspiration as I attempt to create a habitat for non-human species within the human imagination. Every time you interact with endangered wildlife, however fleeting, you make a room for it in your imagination. Allowing a habitat to form in our imagination is actually critical to preventing the extinction of non-human species. #biodiversity #naturecorridor #goomallingwa #memorypalace
‘Thinking outside the box’ porcelain teapot This November as part of #ceramicscongress online courses I will show you how I build a porcelain teapot. @keaneceramics #porcelainteapot #porcelainceramics #colouredporcelain #morethanhumanworld #loveanimals
#endangeredaustralianwildlife
Very excited to be a feature artist at FOUND this December and working with Pia Chomley and the amazing FOUND curatorial team, situated in the beautiful grounds of #fremantleartscentre as part of #fremantlebazaar #porcelain
#endangeredaustralianwildlife #teapots #porcelainceramics #colouredporcelain #figurativeart #narrativeceramicsculpture #narrativeart #westernaustralianartist
This week, I visited Seton Catholic College to share my love for all things porcelain. I am such a fan of art teachers, and for the art faculty - Kate, Jamie, and Indi it is so much more than a job. It felt like the art room was the hippest place to be: such an energetic and nurturing community. A safe place to be yourself, and to play knowing it’s ok to fail. It was a privilege to meet the Year 11 student cohort.
Together, we built a porcelain bird, and I attempted to weave in as many stories, punctuated by life lessons, as possible over six hours. These were my 10 takeaways :
1. You have time and youth on your side, so play! Experiment. Play more. Be fearless and make plenty of mistakes.
2. Iterate, iterate, iterate — don’t be satisfied with your first attempt … or the first answer that pops up in your browser. Travel the path less traveled.
3. If you love being in the art room and getting messy, if when focused you lose track of time… you’ve probably found your thing — and your tribe.
4. Making art sets you up for success in ways that go far beyond the classroom. Many industries today require curious minds that can pivot and problem-solve — especially in a rapidly changing, tech-driven world.
5. The role of an artist is to take a feeling and build a world around it. That takes skill and confidence — both of which take time to develop, so be patient.
6. Don’t put pressure on your creativity to “pay off” too early — be prepared to be your own patron in the beginning.
7. Be stubbornly curious. Artists are treasure hunters, and gems are found at the most unsuspecting margins. Your role is to recognise patterns as you connect the dots between unrelated worlds.
8. A career in the creative industries is all about momentum. When a creative opportunity comes your way, resist saying no. Instead, say, “Leave it with me, I’ll get back to you,” do your research, and if it’s not in your wheelhouse, pay it forward.
9. Remember — no one is born a master of anything. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and mastery is developed slowly, over thousands of hours.
10. Make what creates a revolution in your heart, and be intolerant of art that lacks meaning. #loveclay #artteacher
FLOW
Generation drift — the moment when digital output begins to slip away from its original porcelain and mixed-media source. Characters evolve, details mutate, and the narrative bends into something strange and unintended.
Across nine ten-second prompts, I watched this drift unfold while consuming nearly 90 litres of water — an invisible cost tied to the cooling systems that sustain these technologies. This storyline uses irony to expose that contradiction: daily, we turn to AI as a tool of convenience, yet each generated moment carries a material impact on the natural world.
#australianceramics #australianartist #capcut #aiwaterconservation #aiart
Last year, in the lead-up to the BioSphere Boodja Festival, I had the privilege of running clay workshops with the elders in Goomalling. It also gave me the chance to reconnect with someone truly special — Betty Bywaters.
Betty believed in me long before I believed in myself, right at the beginning of my clay journey. Nearly 30 years ago, she started collecting my strangely odd little creations… and never stopped. That kind of support changes everything.
More recently, she made the trip all the way from Goomalling to visit my studio in Perth with her daughter Tania — a time I will cherish. She asked me to make her a little girl in porcelain.
People like Betty are rare and powerful — not just in my life, but in so many others. Her love and encouragement have shaped generations, including her extraordinary grandchildren, who’ve gone on to build incredible creative careers across Australia.
Today, I began building a piece, just for Betty.
Thank you, Betty, for giving me wings.
Ox #porcelain #figurativeclay #australianceramics #keanesclay #colouredclay
⏳ Applications Closing Soon: Koomalin Clay Artist-in-Residence 2026
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique, funded residency in Goomalling, WA.
We’re seeking a ceramic artist passionate about community, education, and working with young people to take part in a 9-week residency (July–September 2026). The program includes school workshops, a public session, and time to develop your own work inspired by place, culture, and connection.
Don't miss out. Apply now or learn more:
.au/koomalin-clay-artist-in-residence-program-2026
It’s true… I almost always create with someone specific in mind — someone or something I care about.
That’s the beautiful thing about being human: the threads that connect us. Even if what I make doesn’t resonate with everyone, I’ve learned that when something moves me deeply, it usually finds its way to others who feel it too.
Animalius Veterinary Hospital is leading with compassion as they change the way we care for other species here in Western Australia.
Founded by three very clever, brave, and compassionate women — Dr Belinda Hopper, Dr Zoe Lenard, and Dr Fleur James — their role in the community is truly significant.
I had the pleasure of hosting the Animalius team at my studio a few years ago for a clay team-building workshop. It was one of those experiences that filled me with hope
#animalius #careaboutanimals #veterinarycare #care #morethanhuman
Every object holds a story—the real joy and inspiration is always in the research ✨
I’m especially grateful to the Royal Flying Doctor Service for this commission. Creating work with purpose is always a privilege.
Here’s a little behind-the-scenes making video I shared with Sam—a thank you gift for Sam Walsh, the departing Chair of RFDS in Western Australia. To see full making video go to /1178143913. #royalflyingdoctorservice #objectart #porcelain #handmade #jug
