Bio

Mel Jhey is an Australian ceramic artist living and working on Gadigal Country in Sydney. She graduated from the National Art School in 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Art majoring in Ceramics, following a Diploma of Visual Arts from Newcastle Art School.

Her sculptural practice explores the expressive potential of clay through experimental glazes, large hand-built forms and installation. Jhey has exhibited in group exhibitions across Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne, including House of Stories at Nobbys Whibayganba (2023), the National Art School Drawing Department Archive Project (2024), and Fresh and Found at Scratch Art Space, Marrickville (2025).

She was awarded the Claypool Award at the 2025 National Art School Awards Night and received Highly Commended for Ceramics in the Gosford Art Prize (2023). Her work has also been selected as a finalist in the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award and the Colin Holden Print Commission.

Alongside her studio practice, she has worked as a ceramics tutor and assistant to both local and international ceramic artists.

  • Mel Jhey

    Exquisite Intangible, 2025

    Stoneware, glaze

    143 x 30 x 30 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Yellow Urn, 2025

    Stoneware, iron oxide, engobe, glaze, epoxy, nailpolish, enamel

    103 x 30 x 30 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Reach In, 2025

    Stoneware, glaze

    138 x 28 x 28 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Big Mouth (Top View), 2025

    Stoneware, glaze, engobe, iron oxide

    77 x 18 x 21 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Big Mouth (Glaze Detail), 2025

    Stoneware, glaze, engobe, iron oxide

    77 x 18 x 21 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Big Mouth (Side View), 2025

    Stoneware, glaze, engobe, iron oxide

    77 x 18 x 21 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Writhe, 2025

    Earthenware, engobe, slip

    72 x 17 x 19 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Huddle, 2025

    Stoneware, slip, glaze

    25 x 15 x 17 cm, 23 x 11 x 17 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Three Monster Vases, 2025

    Stoneware, glaze

    27.5 x 11 x 9.5, 37 x 11 x 7, 42.5 x 14 x 11.5 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Mysterious Cactus #1, 2025

    Stoneware, slip, glaze

    40 x 14 x 14 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Mysterious Cactus #2, 2025

    Stoneware, slip, engobe, glaze

    48 x 30 x 18 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Oracle, 2025

    Earthenware, glaze

    143 x 30 x 30 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Cocoon, 2025

    Earthenware, glaze

    79.5 x 13 x 13 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Languid Lure, 2025

    Earthenware, slip, glaze, thread

    60 x 30 x 19 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Nook, 2025

    stoneware, engobe, glaze

    57 x 21 x 14 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Galactic Trident, 2024

    Stoneware, glaze

    47 x 16 x 16 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Disarticulated Pumpkin, 2024

    Stoneware, glaze

    28 x 14 x 14 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Amulet, 2024

    Stoneware, glaze

    46 x 22 x 10 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Mysterious Flower, 2024

    Stoneware, glaze, gold leaf

    38 x 15 x 18 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Plom Plom, 2024

    Stoneware, glaze

    25 x 15 x 15 cm

  • Mel Jhey

    Sploink, 2024

    Stoneware, glaze

    33 x 12 x 12 cm