You’re warmly invited to Her Flame My Hands — the first solo exhibition by Brisbane/Meanjin-based potter Jenna Catchpole (née Thompson).
This show marks a quiet midpoint in Jenna’s life — 19 years with her mum, and now 19 without her. Jennene was a gifted potter, and Jenna was just 19 when she passed away. Now, at 38, Jenna continues to connect with clay — a practice that keeps her feeling close to her mum — as a way to hold memory, love, and time in her hands.
Jenna has been working with clay for many years, a passion deeply rooted in her early life thanks to her mum’s influence. After a period away from the wheel following her passing, she rediscovered her love for ceramics in 2013, when she commenced studying with Ray Cavill at Clayschool Brisbane. Since then, her work has focused on exploring texture, form, and the complex beauty of wood ash glazes. Intricate carvings and dynamic surface patterns characterize her pieces, reflecting an ongoing conversation between artist and material.
Woodfiring became central to Jenna’s practice in 2015, shaping both her creative process and the unique character of her work. Over the past decade, she has travelled across Australia firing wood kilns in diverse locations. This process of firing connects her deeply to the materials and the community of makers around her.
Every vessel in this exhibition has been woodfired over several days in 3 different kilns, where fire, ash, and heat create unpredictable markings — making each piece truly one of a kind. These works live in the space between mother and daughter, memory and presence, grief and growth.
OPENING EVENT
Saturday 6th Sep : 2-5PM
- Official speeches at 3pm-
OPENING HOURS
Thursday 11AM - 4PM
Friday 1-4PM
Saturday and Sunday 10AM-4PM
- or by appointment -
Jenna will be in the gallery during opening hours to chat about the work, share insights into her process, and create new pieces at the pottery wheel. Visitors are invited to wander through, connect with the work, and share this special milestone moment. Bring friends, family, and anyone who loves clay and stories marked by fire and love.