Jo Slauenwhite
Jo’s passion for clay began at the age of eight while attending primary school in Australia. A graduate of Riverina College of Art, Charles Sturt University, Australia she initially pursued a career in graphic design that spanned two continents and ultimately brought her to Canada.
For over 40 years Jo worked in publishing, leading creative teams that integrated manufacturing, marketing design and digital media. Throughout her career, she developed a deep expertise in colour, completing her final-year thesis on colour theory and working extensively with printing systems, colour profiles, and prepress technologies.
Following her retirement from publishing, Jo returned to her first love— ceramics. Drawn to the tactile nature of clay and the versatility of handbuilding in slabs and coils; she continues to explore functional, sculptural and decorative pieces incorporating texture, colour, and form through both traditional and experimental ceramic techniques. Her fascination with colour has naturally evolved into the study of glaze chemistry, where she creates and tests her own glazes, slips, underglazes, watercolours and ceramic pastels.
Jo taught handbuilding pottery workshops for a few years and served as the studio glaze technician at NewMakeIt in Ontario. She also contributed to her community for several years as the Co-Treasurer and a Board Director of the Newmarket Farmers’ Market.
A passionate student of ceramics, Jo is inspired by the more than 20,000-year history of pottery and believes that understanding how a clay body behaves unlocks endless creative possibilities. One of her happiest places is her glaze kitchen, where experimentation and discovery continue to fuel her artistic journey.
Instagram: @slauenwhitejo
Email: Creativejo.61@gmail.com
