About

Nanna Bayer

Born in Finland, rooted in Tasmania. Ceramist, ecologist, teacher.

Biography

Nanna Bayer works with nerikomi — the Japanese technique of coloured-clay inlay — making vessels that hold light the way the bush holds it after rain. Her Finnish upbringing shapes how she thinks about material: clay as a record, pattern as a way of reading the world.

In South Hobart, where she now lives and works, that thinking extends outward — into ecological sculpture, penguin nesting modules for the Derwent Estuary, objects that belong to specific places along the Tasmanian coast. The studio is also a teaching space: small groups, slow work, the same questions asked differently each week.

Her work is held in the National Gallery of Australia and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. She has exhibited at the Australian Ceramics Triennale, Design Tasmania, Mansfield Ceramics Gallery, and the Kohila Symposium in Estonia. Commissions include a 200-piece dinner set for MONA and architectural ceramic panels for the MONA Oyster Bar.

Solo exhibitions

Exhibitions

• I Know You Are There, TMAG Bond Store (Beakerstreet), 2026
• Older? Wiser? Stronger?, Devonport Regional Gallery, 2022
• Parallel Paths, Handmark Gallery, 2016
• Bunker Gallery, Coffs Harbour, 2013
• In the Land of Wonders?, Handmark Gallery, 2012
• Nasienie II, Galleria Norsu, Helsinki, 2009
• Gallery Can Can, Lonstrup, 2008
• Futon Ya San, Auckland, 2005
• ArteMano, Winterthur, 2004
• Galleria Ofeigur, Reykjavik, 2001

Group exhibitions

Selected group

• Tasmania Makes 25, Design Tasmania, 2025
• Australian Ceramics Triennale, Handmark Gallery, 2019
• Seek. Clay. Make, Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Sydney, 2013
• Agathons Party, Iloa-Joy, Gallery Coppersmithy, Fiskars, 2013
• Ceramega 2012, Art Center of Voipaala, Valkeakoski, 2012
• Rautarouvat (Iron Ladies), Gallery Coppersmithy, Fiskars, 2011
• Opposite Poles, Artisan Gallery, Robigana, 2010
• 10th Kohila International Ceramics Symposium, Tallinn, 2010
• World Ceramic Biennale 2007 Korea, Ichon, 2007
• Dialogue, National Gallery of Arts, Tirana, 2007
• Fiskars Design Village, Museo Franz Mayer, Mexico City, 2008
• Fiskars Design Village, Ozone Living Design Center, Tokyo, 2006
• Sato / Harvest, Fiskars Granery, 2006
• Elite-Tile 2006, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, 2006
• World Ceramic Biennale 2001 Korea, Ichon, 2001
• Cup 2000, Museum of Applied Arts, Belgrade, 2000
• Klar Form / Clear Form, Ekebyhovs Slott, Stockholm, 2000

Commissions

Commissions and collections

• Little Penguin nesting modules, Derwent Estuary (2021–2024, with IMAS and Birdlife Tasmania)
• 3-metre fire sculpture, Australian Ceramics Triennale, Hobart (2019, with Selena de Carvalho)
• 200-piece dinner set, MONA, Hobart (2014)
• Architectural ceramic panels, MONA Oyster Bar (2014)
• Pentagon, teepee top, MONA (2012)
• Elite-Tile, Igneri Foundation, Dominican Republic (2002, 2006)

Collections: MONA (Hobart), WOCEF (South Korea), Igneri Foundation (Dominican Republic), Vakeva Maa / Terra Artis Sculpture Parks (Finland), National Gallery of Australia, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.