I became a potter 25 years ago thanks to a scheduling mishap. I had my heart set on the university’s graphic design program… until I discovered it was full. With no plan B, I shrugged and signed up for pottery instead…and accidentally stumbled into my life’s work.
As a kid, I loved building with LEGO, assembling and rearranging until things felt just right. Pottery turned out to be the grown-up version—only now, I gets to create all the pieces myself.
As “an Island potter” my work is a celebration of Vancouver Island's rich landscape and vibrant ecosystems. Inspired by the rugged coastlines, lush forests, and serene beaches, each piece I create reflects the organic shapes, textures, and colours found in nature. Through my pottery, I strive to evoke a sense of connection to the land and a reverence for its beauty.
When I'm not up to my elbows in clay, I'm probably teaching others to embrace the joy of mud.
Lilach Lotan
EXHIBITIONS
Vancouver International Airport - YVR, Richmond BC, September 2009–October 2010
BC Creative Achievement Award Winners 2009: Special showcase of works
Museum of Vancouver, BC, January 8-April 14, 2010
By Hand – BC & Yukon: Juried Craft Exhibition part of the Cultural Olympiad
Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea September 23–November 1, 2009
Unity & Diversity: Juried Group Exhibition at the Canadian Pavilion
Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts - VisArts, Rockville, MD October 25, 2009
The Art of Tea: Invitational Group Exhibition Art Matters fundraiser
Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PAOctober 3–December 31, 2008
Teapots! Steep in Thought: 3rd Invitational Group Exhibition
Peters Valley Craft Center: Sally D. Francisco Gallery, Layton, NJ July 26–October 31, 2008 Great Goblet Gala: Invitational Group Exhibition
Craft Council of British Columbia, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC December 2007
Potters and Pitchers: Invitational Group Exhibition
Nanaimo Art Gallery, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BCJuly 30–September 3, 2005
Tozan Cultural Society Show
BC in a Box; Potters Guild of British Columbia, BC, May 5–November 26, 2005
The Old School House Arts Centre, Qualicum Beach, BCJuly 3-31, 2006
Form and Fire: Solo Exhibition
Gallery of BC Ceramics, Granville-Island, Vancouver, BCFebruary 3-28, 2005
Bottled: Solo Exhibition; part of the Potters Guild of British Columbia’s 50thAnniversary
PUBLICATIONS
Clay, Light & Water, Margaret O’Rorke, A & C Black, London / Univ. of PennsylvaniaPress,
Lilach & Ron Lotan, p.39-40, p.49; 87; 111, First Edition 2010
NICHE, ’10 NICHE Winners, p.77, Vol. 22, No. 2, Spring 2010
By Hand – Contemporary Craft from BC & Yukon, CCBC & MOV, Blurb Inc. 2009
Lilach Lotan: Cactus Flower Sculptural Lighting, Exhibition Catalogue, Jan–Apr 2010
Unity & Diversity – Selected Works, Museum of Vancouver & Canadian Crafts Federation 2009,
Flora & Fauna: Lilach Lotan – Lotus, Exhibition Catalogue, p.50; 98, Jan–Apr 2010
Martha Stewart Living, The Briefing: Magic Glow, p.29, February 2010
The Globe and Mail, The Design Issue: From Sea to Crafting Sea, Style, p.L5, January 16, 2010
Nisha – Design Only, Small Niche: Open Zipper (Hebrew), p.16, Vol. 94, November 2009, Israel
Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2009, Unity & Diversity: Guest Pavilion – Canada,
Flora & Fauna: Lilach Lotan – Lotus, Catalogue item 77, p.115; 262, Sept–Nov 2009
CCBC Craft Contacts, Member Highlights, p.3, p.6 March 2009–May 2009
Canadian House & Home, Style Files: New & Notable, p.36, Vol. 30, No. 11, November 2008
Ceramics Monthly, Laguna Clay Company, p.17, Vol. 56, No. 7, September 2008
NICHE, Selling Seasonally, June: Weddings, p. 69, Vol. 20, No. 3, Summer 2008
500 Plates & Chargers, Lark Books, Zipper Platter, p.188; 419, First Edition 2008
CCBC Craft Contacts, Lilach Lotan - Member Profile, p.3, December 2007–February 2008
BC Home, West Coast Style, p.16-17, Vol. 4, No. 4, September 2007
NICHE, ’07 NICHE Winners, p.74, Vol. 19, No. 2, Spring 2007
Ceramics Monthly, Emerging Artists 2006, p.34, Vol. 54, No. 5, May 2006
500 Pitchers, Lark Books, Untitled, p.139, front flap, intro. p.6; 417, First Edition 2006
NICHE, ’06 NICHE Winners, p.93, Vol. 12, No. 2, Spring 2006
Tozan Cultural Society 10th Anniversary 1995-2005, Impact Visual Communications, July 2005
Ceramics Monthly, Upfront, p.16; 22, Vol. 53, No. 3, March 2005
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NICHE Magazine’s 2010 Awards Winner: Home Furnishings – Lamps/Lighting Category
NICHE Magazine’s 2010 Awards Finalist: Ceramics - Wheel-thrown Category
BC Creative Achievement Award for Applied Art & Design: 2009 Winner
Awards reception and ceremony at Shaw TV Vancouver, BC September 21, 2009; presented by the honourable Premier Gordon Campbell
One of a Kind Award for Excellence in All Craft Media, Western Canada: 2008 Winner
NICHE Magazine’s 2008 Awards Finalist: Ceramics - Wheel-thrown Category
NICHE Magazine’s 2008 Awards Finalist: Home Furnishings - Teapots Category
NICHE Magazine’s 2007 Awards Winner: Ceramics - Wheel-thrown Category
Ladysmith Arts Council’s 2nd Annual Multi Media Fine Arts Exhibition: Second Place Winner
NICHE Magazine’s 2006 Awards Winner: Whimsical Category