I trained as a painter but it was colour and all the possibilities of form and texture that attracted me to ceramics, and I am still stuck in the mud! One of the great things about clay is that there never seems to be an end to what you can do with it. As someone who likes to muck around with lots of ideas, clay has been the perfect partner in crime. I really do feel I have only just started.
Brendan Adams is a New Zealand ceramic artist and designer whose distinctive sculptures and wall-mounted ceramic works have attracted a loyal and growing audience. Celebrated for his vibrant slipcast creations – originally produced with Crown Lynn clay – Adams has in recent years broadened his practice to include contemporary abstract and figurative works incorporating steel, brass, aluminium, and timber alongside clay.
Many of his pieces are purely artistic, yet others combine creativity with utility. His portfolio includes ceramic bird feeders, candleholders, smartphone speakers and even functioning radios, blending form and function with flair.
Working professionally with clay since 1987, Brendan and his wife Kathryn first established a shop in Kingsland to make original ceramic art accessible to the public, operating it successfully for a decade. In 2013 they launched Front Room Gallery to showcase both their own work and that of other New Zealand potters. Today, the pair run Brendan Adams Designs from their home-based studio in Auckland.
A graduate of Otago Polytechnic with a Diploma in Fine Arts majoring in painting, Adams has taught at Unitec and the Auckland Studio Potter Society. His artworks have featured in significant national exhibitions and competitions, earning multiple awards, and are held in collections such as the Auckland Museum, the James Wallace Arts Trust and various regional institutions. Known for Pacific-inspired colour palettes, relaxed Kiwi style and inventive approach, his domestic ware remains highly recognisable.
Art by the River is a contemporary Whanganui fine art gallery, opened in December 2024. The gallery features a mix of emerging and established New Zealand artists, alongside an exclusive fine art Collectables selection of New Zealand fine art prints. As an art dealer and collector, we include rare and sought-after artworks by internationally recognised artists such as Gretchen Albrecht, Banksy, Damien Hirst, Ralph Hotere and, Andy Warhol. We are committed to supporting NZ artists through a regular art exhibition in-house, connecting both NZ and international art collectors with meaningful artwork, and contributing to Whanganui’s vibrant cultural landscape.
