AUSTRALIAN STORY Mud Australia

This year marks the 25th anniversary of one of this country’s biggest ceramics success stories, Mud Australia. Founder Shelley Simpson began making her wares in a small shared studio in inner Sydney in 1994. The products were handpainted earthenware and sold at fairs, markets and direct to retail. And the name? “A very good friend came up with ‘Common as Mud’ but it was a little too obtuse, so it was changed to Mud Australia,” says Shelley. She had never run a business before. “It was a steep learning curve. Establishing a ceramic production environment, finding and training staff, locating suppliers, technicians, admin, marketing. The advantage of being small is that you can afford many little instructive failures without being destroyed.”

She now runs the business with her partner James Kirton. In the early 2000s Mud Australia transitioned from earthenware to porcelain made from French Limoges clay, a stronger, finer material that can be tinted with pigments (as opposed to surface glazing); this gave rise to the signature glazed interior with matt exterior. The range has grown to more than 80 shapes in 20 colours, from small salt dishes to large-scale lighting. The tableware is dishwasher-, oven- and microwave-safe.

Production at the Marrickville, Sydney, factory is broken down into three areas: making, trimming and glazing, and kilns.

It’s conducted by a mix of professional and amateur ceramicists. “Approximately half our team are trained ceramicists from a fine-art background,” says Shelley. “The amateurs

have an instinct for the product and process and refine their skills on the job.” Softer tones such as Milk, Dust, Mist and Ash are most popular, with bolder colours such as Slate, Plum and Yellow featuring as statement pieces.

The company currently has seven stores across Sydney, Melbourne, London, New York and LA, employing some 75 people. It also recently developed Matte, a matt finish available as a special order on all pieces in the range. “We showed the collection at our first appearance at Milan Salone del Mobile 2019,” says Shelley.

“The exhibition was exceptionally well received with lots of attention from the global press and design community.”

The range has grown to more than 80 shapes in 20 colours, from salt dishes to lighting.

ABOVE Clockwise from top left The Mud Australia store in New York. A sample of the lighting, plates and bowls in Mud’s collection. Shelley Simpson. LEFT The new Matte range.