Mahala Hill

Mahala Hill is a contemporary ceramic artist based in regional New South Wales, Australia. Mahala’s work is deeply influenced by her upbringing in the diverse landscapes of rural Australia, where sprawling bushland meets vibrant coastlines along the Southern Ocean. Her profound connection to the environment serves as a primary source of inspiration for her artistic practice.

Having discovered her passion for ceramics, Mahala completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts with a specialisation in Ceramics at the Australian National University School of Art and Design in 2015, followed by First Class Honours in 2017.

Mahala Hill is known for her innovative approach to ceramics, characterised by experimental techniques and a discursive practice. She engages in material exploration, allowing it to guide her ideas and extend her conceptual framework, often raising questions or dilemmas for further exploration. Recently, Mahala has been exploring themes of curiosity, wonder, beauty, death, and the apocalypse, utilising these motifs to shed light on pressing environmental issues.

Central to Hill’s practice is the concept of the ‘burn out,’ a transformative process where plant matter is encased in clay and then incinerated, leaving behind a haunting, shell-like form. This ‘burn out’ serves as a poignant metaphor for the cycles of life and loss within the environment. Through this process, Hill explores both past and present environmental challenges, inviting viewers to contemplate the fragility and resilience of our natural world.

Mahala has exhibited widely within Australia in both group and solo settings. Her work is held in several public collections including City of Townsville Art Collection, Macquarie Group Collection, The ACT Legislative Assembly Art Collection, Castlemaine Art Museum and private collections within Australia and Singapore.

Visit Mahala Hill’s website and Instagram page.