David Schlapobersky & Felicity Potter
The Art of High-Fired Studio Pottery

David Schlapobersky and Felicity Potter have worked in partnership as studio potters and life partners for more than 53 years, honouring the traditions of high-temperature, reduction-fired stoneware and porcelain while expressing their art in a contemporary language.

At their Bukkenburg Studio in Swellendam, South Africa, their home and workspace are seamlessly intertwined, reflecting their conviction that art is not merely a practice but a way of life.

Their work embodies a synthesis of personal experience and inherited wisdom, echoing the idea that identity is often shaped by those who came before us.

Rooted in science, yet deeply influenced by the pioneers of the craft, their ceramics have become both a continuation of tradition and a personal exploration of form, function, and the alchemy of high-fired glazes.

Using their own carefully blended clays and glazes—often incorporating various types of ash, they have built a substantial and evolving body of work.

They continue to exhibit widely and undertake commissions for collectors, private and corporate clients, as well as collaborative projects with interior and landscape designers.

Mindful of the fragility of our human existence, they approach their craft with undiminished enthusiasm, embracing all that this discipline continues to offer.

Felicity’s sad and tragic death early in 2025 has brought profound loss. Her life, creativity, and quiet strength remain a constant presence in the studio.

David continues the work they shaped together over more than half a century, completing outstanding commissions, restocking the gallery at Bukkenburg, and developing new work for future firings.

The long and rewarding journey in clay continues as a testament to the rhythm of making, the depth of shared creative purpose, and the enduring role of art in life.

For further details, please visit: www.pottery.co.za