Townsville to showcase world-famous Wedgwood collection in an Australian first
Townsville will be hosting Australia’s first-ever exhibition of world-famous Wedgwood ceramics, showcasing 100 extremely rare pieces hailed as the ‘cream of the crop’ of the iconic UK collection.
Townsville
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Townsville will debut a major, iconic collection of Wedgwood ceramics from one of the world’s most esteemed cultural institutions in an Australian first next April.
The Wedgwood: Artists and Industry exhibition, featuring 100 objects from the UK’s Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, explores the rich history and groundbreaking artistry of Wedgwood.
Exclusive to Australia in 2025, the exhibition will guide visitors at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery through more than 200 years of Wedgwood’s legacy.
Townsville City Galleries director Holly Arden said she was extremely proud to help bring this remarkable exhibition to North Queensland.
“Wedgwood is a coup for us, further cementing Townsville as the North Queensland capital of arts and culture. Townsville itself is celebrated nationally as a creative hub for Australian ceramics,” Dr Arden said.
“This exhibition is making its Australian premiere in Townsville and will be exclusive to our city for 2025, which means we’ll be welcoming plenty of visitors who will travel from across the country to explore this remarkable collection.
“There are so many Wedgwood aficionados in Australia; we’re trying to show the breadth of what Wedgwood has done as a massive brand.”
The V&A Wedgwood Collection holds more than 165,000 objects, and Dr Arden said the exhibition would have the cream of the crop.
“Wedgwood: Artists and Industry is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some extremely rare pieces,” she said.
“Visitors need to know that this is nothing like looking inside your grandma’s china cabinet. “The company’s founder, Josiah Wedgwood, was like an early Kim Kardashian — a brand powerhouse.
“At the same time, the Wedgwood story is woven into Australia’s colonial history. Explorer Joseph Banks actually supplied Josiah with clays sourced from Sydney Cove, which were used to create a medallion commemorating the landing of the First Fleet in 1788.
“Wedgwood: Artists and Industry will mark the first time Perc Tucker Regional Gallery hosts a paid exhibition, bringing our premier gallery into line with other nationally recognised galleries that host internationally renowned artworks.
“Visitors will be amazed by pieces spanning more than 200 years across five distinct chapters, giving them the chance to learn the history of this household name and its global impact on the world of ceramics while exploring a completely immersive exhibition experience.”
V&A Wedgwood Collection chief curator Catrin Jones said the museum was thrilled to be sharing some of its most-prized pieces with Australian audiences as part of this brand-new exhibition.
“We’re delighted that our exhibition Wedgwood: Artists and Industry is travelling to Townsville for its first leg in 2025,” she said.
“This exhibition showcases the artistry of Wedgwood and the extraordinary technical innovations that mark out this company over four centuries through highlights from the V&A’s Wedgwood collections and archives.
“We hope that you enjoy this exhibition and the chance to explore Wedgwood’s history.”
Townsville councillor Liam Mooney said the city had a strong history of supporting ceramics.
“Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is the home of the North Queensland Ceramic Awards, which celebrates excellence in Australian ceramics during its biennial exhibition,” he said.
“Hosting Wedgwood: Artists and Industry takes the city’s reputation as a ceramics hub and catapults it to the next level, showcasing our city’s arts scene on an international stage.”
The exhibition runs at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery from April to August next year and for more information and to get tickets go to townsville.qld.gov.au/wedgwood
Originally published as Townsville to showcase world-famous Wedgwood collection in an Australian first
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