Originally from London, Liz Sharek lives and works in Matakana. She holds a masters in art and design from Auckland University of Technology (2008) after graduating from UNITEC with a craft and design degree (1998).

She exhibits regularly in New Zealand and internationally, with her work held in Te Papa’s collection as well as the Ebeltoft Glass Museum in Denmark. She has been a finalist in the Portage Ceramic Awards, and has been the winner of several awards including the Waiheke Small Sculpture Award.

Liz has evolved her practice from a craft based perspective to conceptual, which has led her to a very contemporary oeuvre of work. Her piece Bottle Vessel (2023), for example, is a contemporary play on the bottle shape, with the artists’ signature experimental style playing across the surface. Of this style she says: “clay is such a lovely medium to work with, and the process is so much easier. It’s playful–you can start something and if it’s not working, it’s no big deal. I still love glass and always will, but for now this is where it’s at for me.”

Liz is also a celebrated glass artist, having worked with kiln formed glass from her home studio in Auckland for many years in the 1990s. This experience in glass was extended to clay, and the distinctive influences of glass work can be seen within her clay works. This is what sets Liz apart in her work, which has a brilliant contextual focus.