Didier Balez

Ceramicist/sculptor 

Based in Wombarra, Dharawal country.

Didier grew up in a small coastal village in the south of France but always felt the call to explore the world. Setting out on his bicycle, Didier travelled extensively across the world, exploring 6 of the 7 continents. His adventures led him to Australia where he eventually settled an hour south of Sydney (Australia), on Dharawal country, with his family in the coastal hamlet of Wombarra. Wombarra translates as "Black Duck" in Dharawal language. 

Didier was introduced to ceramics by his wife Paulineke, over 40 years ago, learning how to throw, glaze and fire pots. Leveraging this skill set, Didier held the position of technical officer in the ceramics department at Randwick Technical College, before moving to the University of Wollongong (UOW), where he was the technical officer for the sculpture department for 30 years. 

Didier discovered the Raku firing technique while teaching at Ranwick and fell in love with the process. Over time, he has developed his own glazes and firing techniques, exploring the unpredictable creative possibilities of the practice. In 2000, Didier completed a Master of Creative Arts at UOW concentrating on Raku fired sculptures. 

All of Didier’s pieces are one off, dictated by the magic of the Raku firing.

Didier acknowledges and is grateful to live, work and create on the majestic lands of the Dharawal people. He pays his respects to them, to their culture, and to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Wombarra always was and always will be, Aboriginal land. 

didierbalez@gmail.com

+61 408 169 668

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