Avital Sheffer's work is informed by an investigation of her Middle Eastern and Jewish heritage and an ongoing engagement with the landscape, architecture, languages and wisdom of that part of the world.  The territory she refers to in her work is historically loaded; few places have produced as much influence on the spread of art, language and spirituality and fewer still have produced as much conflict and dispute.  Ancient ceramics, glass, metalware and calligraphy are a well of inspiration.  In her recent works, Avital explores how the symbolic power of the female form has remained significant from prehistoric to contemporary times.  Through the form, volume, surface and lines of the vessels Avital aims to magnify the enigmatic, rare beauty of the female form, which has been represented across different cultures and times.  Avital’s ceramic vessels are constructed with coil, slab and mould, multiple fired with applications of slips, glazes, terra sigilattas and prints.

Avital Sheffer grew up in Israel, where she practiced fashion and textile design, building design and town planning.  After migrating to Australia in 1990 and settling on the North Coast of NSW, she turned to the making of ceramics, receiving a Diploma in ceramics from Lismore TAFE College in 2003.  Over the last seven years Avital has exhibited widely across Australia and the USA, and has been a finalist in numerous awards including the Blake Prize, Manning Art Prize and IV International Biennial of Ceramics in Korea.  Avital’s work is represented in many collections including the National Gallery of Australia, Powerhouse Museum, Manly Art Gallery & Museum and Gold Coast City Art Gallery.