A gathering of sorts

Dodd fell in love with hand-building techniques under the tutelage of Hiroe Swen after completing her studies in ceramics at ANU in the mid-1990s. Now living outside Berry on Yuin country, NSW, the artist has perfected this process in her own inimitable style, imbuing each work with a distinct personality while drawing on “a deep fascination with other cultures and their reverence to the bull, ceremonies, rituals, costume and story”.

Each piece from A Gathering of Sorts is enriched with delicate carvings that evoke a sense of softness, warmth and harmony. These small, rhythmic, meditative markings feel wonderfully in sync with the musicality and movement of her work and its playful, voluptuous forms. “Through these tactile details, I seek to capture the essence of togetherness and the serene beauty found in nature’s subtle nuances,” says Dodd. “This work invites reflection on the intimate connections we share and the quiet, enduring beauty of the natural world.”