Peter Flanagan

With his recent return to Victoria, Peter’s ceramic journey has come full circle. Before moving to the Okanagan Valley in 1985, he completed a degree in art history at University of Victoria. While at university he maintained a studio and wood fired kiln in the back woods of Oak Bay!

By the mid eighties after art school and university it was time to devote full attention to pottery making. Along with his father-in-law Des Loan at Okanagan Pottery in Peachland, a focused studio practise began. A steady stream of artists, potters and studio visitors kept the creative climate elevated and relevant. In addition to family, clay makers Les Manning, Luke Lindoe and Francis Hatfield provided essential mentorship. Working side by side with wife Daphne maintained a ceramic dialogue essential for mutual growth and success.

In the following years Peter’s work achieved national and international attention and recognition. His work has been in exhibitions, received awards and is included in public and private collections in Japan, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, Canada and the USA. Sharing his knowledge working in clay with eager learners has been and continues to be an extremely rewarding experience.

Pushing his own boundaries in the physical scale, technical and material challenges of porcelain, Peter appreciates a whole new awareness and conversation with the material. Decades of practice culminate to achieve an expression in large-scale works with innovative surface treatment that continue to excite his creative yearning.