International Guest Artist Talk: Cj JilekNature, Sculpture & the Stories Clay Can Tell

Please note: Open for bookings from Monday 13 April 2026

California-based ceramic artist Cj Jilek is coming to Melbourne, and we couldn’t be more excited to host her.

With over 25 years in the ceramic field, Cj’s practice has evolved from wood-fired utilitarian wares to striking biomorphic sculpture that challenges, provokes, and inspires. Her work draws deeply from the natural world, plants, insects, creatures, and the sensual drama of botanical forms, but transforms these observations into richly layered explorations of human sexuality, identity, gender, beauty, and desire. Alongside these themes sit urgent questions about women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and the fragile ecosystems we risk losing.

In this artist talk, Cj will share how decades of travel, deep observation, and a refusal to let her practice stand still have shaped her approach to ceramic sculpture. She’ll reveal how the natural world became her vocabulary for exploring what it means to be human, and how her signature surfaces and animated forms give voice to the stories clay can tell.

Whether you’re early in your ceramic journey or deep in an established practice, this is the kind of evening that shifts how you think about what clay can do and what it can say.

When: Friday 22 May, 6-7.30pm

Where: Slow Clay Centre, 13 Keele St, Collingwood

Tickets: $28

Cj Jilek is a studio artist and educator who has worked in the ceramic field for over 25 years.  A faculty member at various Southern California universities, she holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University.  In addition to an extensive exhibition record, Cj has taught ceramic workshops in Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the United States. Her ceramics career has transformed from wood fire utilitarian wares to mid-range biomorphic sculpture.  The natural environment of plants, insects, and creatures inspires Cj and informs her uniquely animated sculptures and signature surfaces. Her recent research, funded by a grant from California Arts Council addresses social injustices for women, LGTBQ+ and the environment.