Shellharbour City Council is pleased to welcome ceramic artist and community arts facilitator Baylee Griffin as the latest Artist in Residence at The Imaginarium: arts space from 26 October to 2 November 2026.
Based in Thirroul, Baylee’s ceramic practice explores our connection to natural materials through sustainable processes, combining locally sourced clays, recycled materials and traditional techniques to create sculptural forms inspired by nature and folk craft traditions.
Caption: Baylee Griffin is the latest Artist in Residence at The Imaginarium. Image courtesy of Baylee Griffin.
During their residency, Baylee will develop a large-scale ephemeral clay installation inspired by native flora while inviting the community to take part in its creation and eventual dismantling.
Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the residency offers a unique opportunity for the community to engage directly with contemporary ceramic practice.
“The Artist in Residence program continues to connect our community with talented artists while providing opportunities to learn new skills and explore creativity together,” Mayor Homer said.
“Baylee’s project encourages people of all ages and experience levels to get hands-on with clay, contribute to a shared artwork and discover the sustainable life cycle of this remarkable material.”
As part of the residency, Baylee will lead CLAY: build it up/break it down, a series of free community workshops focused on creativity, collaboration and sustainability.
The Coil Garden Workshops will be held on Tuesday 27 October and Saturday 31 October from 10am to 11am. Participants will learn simple coil-building techniques to create leaves, flowers, seed pods and imagined botanical forms, which will become part of a growing communal clay garden installation at The Imaginarium.
A community Unmaking Workshop will follow on Sunday 1 November from 11am to 12pm, where participants will help dismantle the completed installation, crushing, breaking apart and rehydrating the clay to discover how the material can be endlessly recycled and remade. Morning tea will be provided.
Baylee said the project celebrates both the creative possibilities and temporary nature of clay.
“I’m passionate about creating welcoming spaces where people can learn, make and share knowledge together,” Baylee Griffin said.
“This project invites participants to experience the full life cycle of clay, from building something collectively to transforming it back into a material that can be used again and again.”
The residency and workshops welcome participants of all ages and skill levels.
For workshop details and bookings, visit the What’s on at The Imaginarium webpage.
KEY MESSAGES:
• Ceramic artist Baylee Griffin is The Imaginarium’s next Artist in Residence from 26 October to 2 November.
• Community members can help create and deconstruct a collaborative clay garden through a series of free workshops.
• The project explores creativity, sustainability and the unique ability of clay to be endlessly recycled and remade.
