Jan Vogelpoel

Jan Vogelpoel is a Melbourne based sculptor, born in the United Kingdom and raised in South Africa. She makes sculptural and relief works in clay, which reflect her love of organic shapes and graphic lines. For Vogelpoel, the process of making sculptures is tangible and permanent, a labour of love that she finds grounding and rewarding. 

Japanese and Mid-Century design are key influences in her work. She uses a range of clays including earthenware, sculpture clay, black clay and terracotta. The characteristic raw finish of her works makes them highly tactile, recalling the textures of sandstone cliffs or ancient artefacts. 

Vogelpoel developed her skills under the direction of South African ceramicist Barbara Jackson. After a career in graphic design, interior styling and art direction, she started making art full time in 2019. Since then she has been shortlisted in the Craft Victoria Awards (2019) and the Design Files x Laminex Awards (2021), with her work now collected widely in Australia. She began her association with Becker Minty in 2020.