--- title: Theresa Acker description: "Ceramic artist creating individual pieces that invite touch, evoke joy and earthly connection." url: "https://www.artsume.com/a/theresa-acker" type: artist createdAt: 2026-03-16 updatedAt: 2026-04-14 disciplines: - Ceramics - Illustration - Digital Illustration - Mixed Media - Graphic Design location: "Cape Town, WC, South Africa" birthYear: 1970 --- # Theresa Acker *Ceramic artist creating individual pieces that invite touch, evoke joy and earthly connection. | Ceramics, Illustration, Digital Illustration, Mixed Media, Graphic Design | Based in Cape Town, WC, South Africa* ## Artist Statement Based in Kommetjie, I am a ceramicist whose creative journey has evolved through many forms — from graphic design and illustration to acrylic painting, mosaicing, and engraved aluminium. My artistic expression has always been shaped by curiosity and a love for texture, pattern, colour, line, and storytelling. Though painting on ceramics is nothing new to me and stemmed from a childhood facsination of collecting little bits of broken delft crockery in my neighbourhood park (I loved the tactlie connection to the history of my forefathers, the van Breda family, original owners of the Oranjezicht Farm) it was only recently — during a period of profound personal transformation — that I truly found my passion by working directly with clay (earthenware and stoneware). After a serious health scare prompted a major career shift, I returned to art not just as a practice, but as a pathway to healing. This experience echoed a similar turning point in my twenties, and reminded me of a truth I hold close to my heart: experiencing joy is an essential part of any healing journey. All my work connects in some way to joy and healing — even in my career as a graphic designer and illustrator: my clients include NGOs connected to child -health -education and -well being as well as adventure activities that bring joy and connect people to nature. Each piece I create is an exploration of that joy — a tangible, grounded response to being alive and present in the moment. Handbuilding in clay allows me to slow down, to reconnect with the earth, and to give form to a deeply personal process of renewal. My work is also inspired by the natural world that surrounds me: fynbos, shifting tides, and ever-changing textures of the ocean landscape. Ultimately, my ceramics are about connection — to nature, to process, and to the gentle, persistent act of bringing beauty and meaning into everyday life. ## Biography Based in Kommetjie, I am a ceramicist whose creative journey has moved through graphic design, illustration, painting, mosaics and engraved aluminium. After a life-changing health experience, I returned to art as a path to healing and rediscovered a deep connection to clay. Inspired by fynbos, ocean tides and natural textures, my ceramics explore joy, renewal and our connection to the earth through tactile, handbuilt forms. ## Curriculum Vitae ### Education - **2023** - Post Graduate Diploma, in Advertising and Marketing, AAA School of Advertising, Cape Town - **2021** - BScoSc, in Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town ### Group Exhibitions - **2025** - "Deep South Community Art Exhibition," Scarborough Community Hall Cape Town (Curated by Margherita Introna ) - **2025** - "First Thursdays," Art Assembly, Imhoff Cape Town (Curated by Marisa du Toit) ### Professional Experience - **2003 - Present** - Senior Graphic Designer, Yes! Design, Cape Town ## Portfolio ### Ceramic Vases (2025) *ceramics* *25 cm* These vases were hand-built out of black and speckled earthenware clay, gifted to me for my 55th birthday, by my dear friend Jo van Huysteen, under the guidance of our mutual friend and huge inspiration to me, Lisa Ringwood. The fynbos-inspired one was bought by another Kommetjie resident, Jenny Hasenfuss who gifted it to Karen Boshoff for her 50th! :) --- ### Fynbos Flower & Birds vase (2026) *ceramics* *35cm* --- ### Round Fynbos-inspired vase (2026) *earthenware* *18cm* This sweet little vase was bought by my childhood school friend for her family holiday house in France. --- ### Indian Block Print navy vase (2026) *light terracotta earthenware* *40cm* Hand-built light terracotta vase with scalloped rim, inspired by indian block printed fabrics --- ### Ocean Paisley vase (2026) *black earthenware* *40cm* Hand-built black earthenware vase inspired by ancient vessel shapes, lapping waves on sand with a touch of paisley --- ### Dandelion Lamp (2025) *stoneware* *45cm* Slab-built lamp with dandelion-style design --- ### Goat Tower (2025) *stoneware* *35cm* This goat tower was inspired by the one at the entrance to Imhoff Farm - it was sold at an Imhoff Potter's Market. --- ### Small Slangkop Lighthouse plate (2025) *stoneware* *12cm* This little plate was bought at an Imhoff Potters market by the Van der Horst family --- ### Little Aloe plate (2025) *stoneware* A matching little plate to the lighthouse one --- ### Delft-inspired alter (2025) *stoneware* *30cm* This little shelved alter was my first slab-built project, so it sits on my dresser to remind me of how it all started --- ### Sweet heart vessel (2026) *earthenware* *30cm* This sweet detail-patterned vase found its home in Hermanus --- ### An Imhoff Potters market display (2026) *ceramics* --- ### Detail of a textured dish (2026) *earthenware* Fynbos-inspired flora and texture on a speckled earthenware clay, coil-built to invite touch --- ### Blue and white mugs (2025) *slipcast earthenware* *8cm* My fellow-potter friend, Adrienne, gifted these slipcast mugs to me to paint - I loved engraving detailed patterns into them and washing with cobalt oxide --- ### Another Imhoff Potter's Market group shot (2025) *ceramics* --- ### Oval Platter (2025) *stoneware* *40cm* Oval platter with cut out scalloped rim feature. I enjoyed experimenting with making a collage out of cut out bits of transfer and then painting it all together --- ### Colourful textured bowl (2025) *earthenware* *14cm* Bowl with etched mandala-inspired pattern into earthy clay --- ### Aqua vessel (2025) *stoneware* *30cm* Simple gloopy aqua vessel (love the feeling of where gentle sea water creeps over the sand towards your toes) --- ### Textured dish in soft earthy greens (2025) *stoneware* *25 cm* --- ### Delicate whimsical dish (2025) *stoneware* *15cm* Delicate fynbos-inspired florals drawn with ceramic pencil on a delicate dish and bought by my friend, Jo from a First Thursdays Art Assembly showing --- ### Little green wonki platter (2025) *stoneware* *17cm* I made this little platter for my friend, Jo using texture, copper carbonate and manganese oxide. I love experimenting with contrasting areas of glossy glaze and raw matt unglazed areas... reminds me of water on sand. --- ### Bluesy vases (2025) *ceramics* *50cm* textured slab/coil hand-built vases in blues and turquoises --- ### Textured chocolate clay vase (2025) *chocolate earthenware* *52cm* Slab-built and stacked vase playing with texture and gloopy glazes --- ### Group shot of various blues and greens (2025) *ceramics* --- ### Cute little bud vase (2024) *10cm* I love making little mini bud vases - etched with cobalt oxide