Claudia Basler Forbes

Ceramics

Maker Member

Claudia Basler Forbes was born in Switzerland and trained as a nurse before discovering clay eight years ago, following her move to Australia 11 years ago. She lives in Kiama with her husband and three children, and the rhythms of family and daily life naturally inform her work.

Claudia’s practice centers on coffee cups — small, intimate vessels designed to be held, used, and appreciated in daily rituals. Each cup is wheel-thrown, with subtle variations and embedded coloured clay “fingerprints” that celebrate the individuality of the handmade and the quiet presence of the maker. She is passionate about exploring clay and glazes, and the alchemy of the kiln, which brings each piece to life in unpredictable and beautiful ways. While functional, her work carries a sculptural sensibility, balancing proportion, weight, and rhythm to create objects that are both practical and visually engaging.

She has worked at Soul Clay Studios for three years as a studio technician and manager, where she continues to teach wheel-throwing and handbuilding, mentoring emerging artists and fostering a collaborative studio environment. Collaborative projects with artist Ingrid Richardson combine functional forms with decorative surfaces, exploring where design, touch, and gesture intersect.

Claudia has exhibited in makers and design markets including Bundanon and Sydney Made, was a finalist in the Crack Pot Competition, and received an Honorable Mention at the 2024 Mansfield Emerging World Stage Exhibition in Gulgong. Her work is stocked in well-recognized shops in Berry and Bowral, and she will be showing in the upcoming Under Current Market. Through her coffee cups, she explores the quiet poetry of everyday ritual — moments of pause, presence, and connection — while honoring the integrity, materiality, and tactile pleasure of objects made by hand.

Online Resources:

Website: https://www.cbfceramics.com/

Instagram: @cbf_ceramics

cover image: cbf ceramics large cup, 2025. Photo courtesy of the artist
top image: cbf ceramics stripy cup, 2025. Photo courtesy of the artist