Rosanagh May
Clay, music, and the poetry of making
Image: RISE artist Rosanagh May at her Sandy Bay studio. Photo: QVMAG.
For ceramicist Rosanagh May, creation is a dance between clay, music, and memory. Based in Hobart, she works across two studios – the bustling, communal Goodwood space and her quiet Sandy Bay sunroom. “I completely lose myself here,” she says of her home studio, where she perfects every detail. “Perfect for making sure I get the words right and all the dots in the right place!”
Rosanagh’s process begins with music. “Each vessel is destined for a particular song… sometimes it’s a favourite from my life, other times a song I’ve only recently heard that’s pulled heavily on a heartstring,” she explains. Her work is deeply intuitive; she hand-builds each piece using coil and slab techniques, letting the clay guide her. Fingerprints and imperfections are celebrated – a reminder of the human touch in every creation.
Image: Ceramic works by RISE artist Rosanagh May. Photo: QVMAG.
Her path to ceramics was anything but linear. After studying fine arts, she explored cheesemaking and motherhood before rediscovering clay through a course with Isaac Patmore. In 2023, her first exhibition, Vicious Circles, marked a turning point, leading to her joining the Despard Gallery family.
For RISE, Rosanagh hopes her work brings joy. “Joy in recognising a song lyric, joy in looking closely, and perhaps, joy in discovering a song they have never heard,” she says. Each vessel is a quiet story, inviting viewers to pause, look closer, and imagine the music that inspired it.
Image: RISE artist Rosanagh May works on her latest piece. Photo: QVMAG.
Being part of RISE is both thrilling and affirming. “It’s exciting and an absolute honour to be part of this beautiful collection of artists,” she reflects.
Her advice for fellow emerging artists combines practicality with encouragement: “Long hours, cold hands, and a willingness to learn from mishaps goes a long way… Keep dreaming, keep creating and keep learning.”
Rosanagh May’s ceramics are small, intimate, and deeply connected to human experience - a harmonious blend of clay, song, and the joy of making.
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