ABOUT THE ARTIST
Susan Trimble is a South African-born emerging ceramic artist living and working on Turrbal and Yuggera Country in Brisbane, Queensland.
Susan immigrated to Australia as a teenager. Despite her childhood ambition to be an artist, she completed a Diploma of Graphic Design and for twenty five years, enjoyed the freedoms, opportunities and experiences this career brought her.
Susan imagined that painting would be the path to eventually finding a career in art. She was granted a three month residency in Florence, Italy in 2002 and was a dedicated term class and workshop student for years. Susan entered the Archibald in 2019 and was invited into the Salon de Refuses of the Brisbane Portrait Prize that same year.
All that changed after a chance encounter with clay in 2020. After completing a masterclass in large scale ceramics and mosaic installation, Susan was given the opportunity to learn from the ceramic and mosaic artist Jane du Rand. Over the following three years, she studied ceramic and mosaicing techniques, learned about kiln and studio management, gained experience working on a large public art commission and helped facilitate workshops. Through it all, Susan discovered she had a natural affinity with clay and developed a passion for ceramics.
Susan continues to learn from inspiring, exceptional people and finds investing in workshops and short courses an accessible, affordable and a powerful way to learn.
Susan now works from her home studio in Brisbane, where she combines her design background and love of painting with a love for nature and mark-making to create work that inspires joy and connection. Susan’s practice reflects her dedication to craftsmanship and her belief in the transformative power of art.
Susan’s solo exhibition Birds of a Feather was in 2024. She has been in 16 group exhibitions and was a finalist in the biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards in 2024. She is currently working on two distinct bodies of work for exhibitions in late 2025.
23-31 Aug 2025 : BUSHLAND IMPRESSIONS III, Maroochy Botanic Gardens
25 Oct-2 Nov 2025 : ARTISANS IN THE GARDENS, Sydney Botanic Gardens