Cathy Franzi
Image: Janelle Petersen
“The subject of my work stems from doing what I love, that is to be in nature, and plants are my particular fascination.”
Dr Cathy Franzi is an award-winning ceramic artist and lecturer whose work explores the intersection of science and art by drawing on her deep engagement with Australian native flora. She initially trained in science, graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, before going on to complete a Master of Visual Arts and a practice-led PhD in Visual Arts (Ceramics) at the Australian National University. Her doctoral research project, 'An Australian Botanical Narrative', examined how Australian flora and environmental knowledge could be translated into ceramic forms and surface imagery.
Drawing on botanical fieldwork, archival research and collaborations with institutions such as the Australian National Herbarium, the National Seed Bank and the ANU Research School of Biology, Dr Franzi transforms scientific observation into exquisitely detailed porcelain vessels. Using techniques including sgraffito, stencil and inlaid ink, she creates intricate botanical imagery that preserves the stories of threatened species and celebrates the diversity of Australian plant life.
She has presented over sixteen solo exhibitions and participated in more than thirty group shows in Australia and internationally. Her work is held in significant public collections, including the Parliament House Art Collection, the Shepparton Art Museum, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and the Grassi Museum of Applied Arts in Leipzig. Having been recognised with numerous awards, including being Highly Commended in the 2020 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize and winning the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Klytie Pate Ceramics Award, Franzi continues to influence the field through both her studio practice and her role as a lecturer at ANU’s School of Art & Design.
