In the raw, unrefined earth, Cairns ceramicist Gabrielle Cooney finds a canvas for her creative expression. She has embarked on a journey of discovery that has led her to the heart of clay’s innate beauty.

Gabrielle Cooney is a ceramicist known for hand‑built, textural, raw clay works. She creates quirky character bowls, sculptural egg‑ and pod‑like forms, and rough‑hewn vessels that celebrate imperfection and the tactile qualities of clay. She works under the label Flintstone Designs, a name that reflects her earthy, rugged aesthetic.

Her ceramic critters bear the marks of both the material and the maker. Each critter created is an exploration of the interplay between human intention and the organic nature of clay. Guided by her hands and a deep connection to the earth, she embraces the imperfections and irregularities that arise during the hand-building process. The malleability of the clay allows her to break free from the constraints of conventional wheel-thrown forms, giving rise to unique pieces that possess a rugged authenticity.

Each piece has a primal rawness and elemental energy, they beckon viewers to touch, feel, and ponder the bonds that tie us to the Earth. In a world that often emphasizes the polished and perfected, her works stand as a tribute to the beauty found in embracing the unrefined, the unfinished, and the authentic.

Gabrielle’s 2026 exhibition ‘Eye Spy – Fisheyes’ comprised of 43 unique ceramic fish‑eye plates, each one individually shaped, glazed, and fired to celebrate the distinct textures, colours, and patterns observed in marine life.

Whilst browsing through the remarkable reference book Swainston’s Fishes of Australia, the artist became captivated by the extraordinary diversity, colour, and intricate structures found within the eyes of Australian fish species. What began as a simple moment of curiosity grew into a sustained creative investigation, exploring how these extraordinary visual organs might be translated into the language of ceramics. Fish eyes—often overlooked despite their evolutionary sophistication—offered a perfect subject through which to examine the intersection of scientific observation and artistic imagination.