About Us - Teresa Watson

Creative Background

Teresa found her passion for clay at the young age of 15 years, and has become an award winning potter. The work that she produces is greatly influenced by the New Zealand culture and landscape. Teresa is a working pottery tutor, who has been teaching her skills to adults and children for 15 years. Working from her home studio in Devonport she operates a 7 cubic gas kiln.
This gives her the flexibility to make work that ranges from primitive firings to high temperture stoneware.
Teresa is invited annually to exhibit at local and national ceramic exhibitions.
You can find her work at:

Next Door Gallery, Birkenhead
Mana Gallery, Parnell
Texan Art School, Ponsonby, Newmarket, Northshore Downtown

Teaching Philosophy

Passing on her passion for clay and teaching new skills to the next generation is important to Teresa, as it keeps the memory of working with the clay alive. Children especially, bring new ideas to the lessons, as they have a beginners mind. Having that open mind is exciting to both the student and the teacher.
Term classes give the students the opportunity to work on the 9 wheels that the centre has, and to fire their work in any of the 3 electric kilns.

Our Vision

Mairangi Arts Centre is a strong, community based visual arts education centre supporting and encouraging local/regional and culturally diverse communities to experience and enjoy a diverse range of visual arts practices, exhibitions and education programmes.

Our Purpose

To provide a supportive, nurturing and encouraging environment at Mairangi Arts Centre that fosters community access to and participation in the visual arts by offering a strong and purposeful education and exhibition programme that meets the learning and presentation needs of the community.