This exhibition marks a poignant midpoint in Jenna’s life — 19 years with her mother, and 19 years without her. Jennene was a gifted potter, and Jenna was just 19 when she passed away. Now at 38, Jenna continues to work with clay as a way of holding memory, love, and time in her hands, maintaining a deeply personal connection to her mother.
Jenna’s passion for ceramics began in her early life under her mother’s guidance. After a period away from the wheel, she rediscovered her practice in 2013, studying with Ray Cavill at Clayschool Brisbane. Her work is characterised by a focus on texture, form, and the luminous complexity of wood ash glazes, often layered with intricate carvings and dynamic surface patterns.
Since 2015, woodfiring has become central to Jenna’s practice, shaping both her artistic process and the unique qualities of her work. Over the past decade she has travelled across Australia, firing kilns in diverse locations and connecting with the wider community of makers.
Every vessel in Her Flame My Hands has been woodfired over several days in three different kilns, where fire, ash, and heat leave their unpredictable and unrepeatable marks. Each piece stands as a singular testament to the spaces between mother and daughter, memory and presence, grief and growth.
Opening Event:
Saturday 6 September 2025, 2–5pm (Official speeches at 3pm)
