Sarah Fraser (b. 1980, Pretoria, RSA)

Sarah Fraser is a ceramic artist whose practice centres around people, place and material. With a focus on exploring the possibilities of how ‘waste’ resources can be transformed by the collaborative efforts of people and communities, coming together to tell stories and shape the spaces around us. 

She draws inspiration from forms in vernacular architecture, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester where she works and explores aspects of the everyday through process-led enquiries. Fraser’s work makes use of reclaimed waste clay and explores how it can be transformed with energy and attention into a vehicle for expression and transformation. 

Her most recent completed project is the award nominated Playscape, an large scale interactive rammed earth artwork presented at the British Ceramics Biennial, 2025, for which she was the lead artist and producer.

Education

2010 - Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Westminster, London

2008 - BA Visual Arts, University of South Africa, Pretoria

Awards & Residencies 

Crafting Futures Real World Ceramics: West Java West Yorkshire Co-operative Movement, Pavilion - 2020

Emerging Genius Scholarship, Dr Wendy Gers, Ceramics Coach, International - 2020

Finalist, ABSA L’Atelier - South African National Association for the Visual Arts, RSA - 2003

Articles & Features

New Approaches with Ceramic Profile Extrusion, Dr Tavs Jorgensen, Sarah Fraser and Sonny Lightfoot (Co-author) presented at Ceramics, Density and Intensity,  X International Congress on Ceramics and Architecture, School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM) - 2022

Through the Die: An Exploration into Clay Extrusion, Dr Tavs Jorgensen, UWE, Bristol, UK - 2019

Employment

Co-producer Manchester Ceramics Fair, The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester (2024-present)

Co-director, Manchester Ceramics Collective (since 2018)

Associate Artist, British Ceramics Biennial (since 2019)

Community and Studio Programme Manager, British Ceramics Biennial, Stoke-on-Trent (2019-2022)

Technician & Class Tutor, Clay Studio CIC, Manchester (2017-2020)

Lecturer in Supported Learning, West Thames College, London (2010-2017)

Lecturer and Learning Support assistant, Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, London (2005 - 2010)