Arts Thread

I’m Richard Monger, a sculptor working with ceramic, glass and emerging bio-luminescent materials. My practice is grounded in material curiosity and explores the intersection of science, spirit and sensory experience. I aim to create work that acts as a vessel for memory, presence and emotional resonance where touch, light and fragility become sculptural language.Before returning to art, I spent 15 years as a chef specializing in French, Japanese and Southeast Asian cuisines. At age 30, epilepsy forced me to leave the kitchen. That rupture led me back to a childhood love of making. I began with painting and textiles, but it was clay that transformed my practice. Its capacity to absorb energy and memory mirrored the healing I sought through my hands.In 2016, I completed a Diploma of Ceramics at Holmesglen TAFE. I went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Art (2023) and Honors (2024) at Monash University. My undergraduate project, FUSION, explored the coexistence of porcelain and glass, drawing from both ancient traditions and material science. My Honours work, Pareidolia, introduced bioluminescence to the practice, shifting focus toward ecological and spiritual presence within form.My process now involves layering porcelain and fused glass with handmade Japanese Washi paper to investigate memory, transparency and decay. This work led to a 2025 scholarship to Japan, where the curator of the Toyama Glass Museum, Ruriko Tsuchida, introduced me to Professor Makiko Nakagami of the Toyama Glass Studio. Following this meeting, I was invited to return as a guest resident artist to further develop my explorations into marine bioluminescence and glaze chemistry.Recent achievements include the 2024 Tess Hill and Bill Hawtin Scholarship, 2025 the Cathedral Cabinet commission with Contemporary Craft Victoria, the 2023 Wardle Art and Design Award and the 2022 Anton Herman Social Justice Award.