Alex is a ceramic artist working on the Central Coast, NSW on Darkinjung
land. She is represented by King Street Gallery on William, Sydney where
she recently had her first solo show. Alex completed a BFA at the National
Art School, following a long-held interest in the fine arts as both a viewer
and maker and is currently undertaking a Masters of Fine Art. Living for
several years in both London and Paris gave Alex the opportunity to be
steeped in centuries of artistic practice, a sense of awe and beauty that
she now brings to her celebration of the Australian environment. Alex’s
maximalist visual language is inspired by European Baroque and the me-
dieval hellscapes of Bosch and Brueghel, abundantly accessible during
her time in Europe.
Decades in legal practice, working pro bono on behalf of refugees, envi-
ronmental groups, homeless charities and mental health services have
made Alex consider the fragility of existence and civilisation, an overrid-
ing theme in her practice. Working with vulnerable people living on the
fringe of society, be it through mental health issues, lack of legal status or
lack of stable housing revealed a liminal state where belonging is ques-
tioned and certainties are lost. A recent serious illness has further caused
Alex to consider the random, chaotic and precariousness of life. Notions
of uncertainty, flux and loss are central to her work.
Alex draws influence also from a childhood in the milling cities of North-
ern England, where decorative porcelain was collected as a luxury display
item from manufacturers such as Coalport and Spode. Her early dislike
for the knickknackery of her mother and grandmothers has turned to a
fascination with the idea and purpose of decoration in the female space.
Alex reads extensively, fiction with a dystopian bent and scientific and
philosophical material that examines our responsibilities to our planet
and technological innovation that may yet save us.
Alex Bray CV
Represented by King Street Gallery on William, Sydney
Fine Art Education
National Art School, Sydney, MFA, Ceramics 2025- ongoing
National Art School, Sydney, BFA, Ceramics Major 2019-2023
National Art School, Hand-building with Jenny Garland, summer school 2019
National Art School, oil painting with Rose Morrison 2018
Tom Bass Sculpture Studio, evening class 2016-18
Australian Centre for Photography, short course 2018
The Pottery Shed, wheel-throwing classes 2018-2019
Prizes and Awards
Finalist Gosford Art Prize September 2025
Finalist Hadley’s Landscape Prize August 2025
National Association of Visual Artists Ignition Award December 2023
Sabbia Gallery exhibition NAS graduate award December 2023
Exhibitions/Collections/Publications
Sabbia Gallery solo show August 2025
Ignite, group show, Sydney University February 2025
The Scenic Route, group show, King St Gallery on William November 2024
Solo show, ‘Afterglow’ King St Gallery on William September 2024
A Fresh Perspective Group show, Gallery Lowe and Lee June 2024
Cooma Cultural Centre group show October 2024
NAS BA Graduate Show November 2023
NAS Stairwell ceramics group show August 2023
NAS Stairwell drawing group show May 2021
Acquired by private collections, in Australia and overseas
Featured in Qantas inflight magazine May 2025
Professional Interests
Pro bono legal and volunteer work for numerous charities/support
groups for vulnerable people (incl. Lifeline, legal advice centres
in Sydney and London, refugees support and advocacy, End Street Sleeping)
Earlier Education and Career
LLB Law, Kings College, London
Masters Civil Law, Sorbonne, Paris
Masters Environmental Law (first year), Sydney University
Legal career – London and Sydney