I am not interested in the random and the spontaneous. I want to be better than a lathe, more plastic than plastic.

John Parker, 1987 

Parker is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive ceramic artists. Throughout his 50-year career, he has favoured the simple lines and clean edges of modernism. Industrial forms, Crown Lynn pottery, and opera are among the influences on his work.

A 2007 residency in China inspired Parker to explore different techniques, including decorating with decals – like the goldfish on this bottle. In China, Parker experienced the epiphany that his work was playing ‘a small part in the continuum of ceramic history.’