Hello!

My name is Suzanne McAllen and I am very excited to be getting all my ducks back in a row and potting again after a long time away from that addictive combination of clay and fire.

I was extremely fortunate to have been trained for 5 years by one of New Zealand’s most admired potters – Mirek Smisek (OBE) in Te Horo as a domesticware thrower.  Being a practical person, I will continue to make tableware because I enjoy being able to weave joy and meaning into our daily lives with unique and beautiful objects.  A subtle thumbprint or texture added purely to bring delight to the holder.  Utilitarian pottery supports and embodies our intimate rituals of whanau, nourishment and celebration.

I live in Ashhurst (a small village/suburb of Palmerston North) and have a lovely big section and studio there and I am really looking forward to seeing where my “Creative Journey with Clay – Part 2” takes me.  I’m so excited, I’m looking forward to challenging myself, growing and learning more; I’ve got so many ideas, I just can’t wait!  I love good form and function and love making pieces that look great on your table straight from the oven but I am also hoping to explore more artistic, sculptural and outdoor pieces.  Finding this life again as a potter is truly a gift and I am so overjoyed!

Thank you for taking the time to find out a little bit about me – I look forward to finding out about you too.  I hope that my mahi brings you pleasure and thank you for looking.  Please feel free to contact me at suz@inspire.net.nz or hunt me down on Instagram.

Suzanne 🙂