Jacquelyn Smith is a ceramics artist living in Sydney on Gadigal land. She studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the National Art School, graduated in 2024. She was born in 2001 and grew up in the developing inner west of Sydney. Their work focuses on themes of isolation and escapism, and how these ideas connect to the individual. These themes are used in mapping her ceramics in the space they take up and how they relate to each other. Her ceramics take shape in hand built coiled forms that become large islands that one wishes they could run away and escape to. Jacquelyn’s work aims to map out the inner self of the viewer and artist alike.
Her most recent body of work uses high fire clay fired to 1200 degrees Celsius and 1280 degrees Celsius, allowing for the forms to crack and break in the kiln as they mimic the natural passage of time that the Earth undergoes. These cracks and breaks are then highlighted through the use of no fire lustre they developed. Her process is one of deep contemplation within herself as she projects an inner world outwards into the real world that the audience can project onto. No form was created with an emotion or personality imbued into them, rather allowing the audience to fulfil this role, ultimately causing the work to be in collaboration with the audience.
Biography
Jacquelyn Smith holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the National Art School. She previously studied at Macquarie University a Bachelor of Education, Primary, and a Bachelor of Art majoring in English and minoring in Performing Arts before starting at the National Art School in 2022.
Jacquelyn exhibited in her Year 12 grad show, the Meriden Grad Show, in 2019. She was a producer in the 2022 Macquarie Ancient History Society Review. In 2023 she took part in a Ceramics Studio Gallery display with her peers, progressing into her involvement in Impulse at the Library Stairwell Gallery in 2024. She exhibited her work in the National Art School Grad Show in both the drawing and ceramics sections in 2024. Her Year 12 visual arts major work is currently held on permanent display in the Meriden School for Girls Junior School, library after being displayed in the principal’s office from 2020 to 2022. Their works are also held in a number of private collections.
Their Year 12 major work was chosen as the advertising material for the Meriden 2019 Grad Show. This promotional material was also used as the staging background for the drama performances held at said grad show. Her art was included in a collaborative poster for the live action play show Unsleeping City on the subscription platform Dropout in 2020. She has also completed several private commissions.
Resume
Education
- 2024 – The National Art School – Ceramics
- 2019 – Meriden School for Girls – Higher School Certificate
Exhibitions
- 2024 – Graduate Show – The National Art School
- 2024 – Impulse, The Library Stairwell Gallery – The National Art School
- 2023 – Ceramics Studio Gallery – The National Art School
- 2022 – Macquarie Ancient History Association Review (producer) – Macquarie University
- 2019 – Graduate Show – Meriden School for Girls
Awards/Prizes
- 2019 – Artwork selected as the promotional image for the Meriden Grad Show
Collections
- 2022-present – Several private collections
- 2020-present – Permanent installation at the Meriden School for Girls Junior and Senior School
Internships
- 2024 – Summer School at the National Art School
- 2023 – Winter School at the National Art School
- 2022 – Macquarie Ancient History Association, Secretary
Commissions
- 2022-2024 – Several private commissions
Publications
- 2020 – Artist in the collaborative poster for Unsleeping City – Dropout
Jacquelyn Smith 