Oliver Morse's devilishly good work selected for Rick Rudd Foundation Emerging Practitioner in Clay Award ceramics prize

Wellington artist Oliver Morse with his winning work, House of Dee, at the Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics in Whanganui. Photo / Bevan Conley

Oliver Morse was bracing himself for disappointment when he learned that he had won the $10,000 Rick Rudd Foundation Emerging Practitioner in Clay Award.

Morse's partner, Jamie Mackman, was encouraging him not to be downhearted if he didn't win when his phone rang.

"It was Rick telling me that I had won and the reality is still sinking in," said Morse.

The artist was visiting Rudd's Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics in Whanganui where his winning House of Dee work is exhibited alongside works by 36 other artists who made the final selections.

"I never really plan my work and this one started as a vase but I didn't like it so I started to hack at it," he said.

The work has a cut-away piece at the back which reveals a devilish figure painted on the inside and Rudd has placed a mirror behind the work to reveal it for display.

"The demon man inside is me and the figures on the outside are figments of people I know or of myself."

Rudd said it was significant that Morse was born in 1978 which is the year that he won his own first major pottery award.

"I won the Fletcher Brownbuilt Pottery Award that year.

"It really encouraged me and I established this award to encourage emerging artists."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, also the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, made the announcement of Morse's win via video on Monday morning.

"I would like to acknowledge the foundation's foresight in establishing this award to support those emerging artists in an art form that has a long tradition in this country," Ardern said.

Rudd, along with fellow judges Paul Rayner and Tom Seaman selected Morse's work from the 37 finalists and initial 65 entries because it "epitomises the reason for the award being established", said Rudd.

"He is someone who has been working with clay for less than two years and yet demonstrates the potential to become a force in the medium in the future."

Morse said he has never had formal training in working with clay but trained in theatre set design at Toi Whakaari in Wellington.

"I have been painting since school and Jamie is an oil painter so I get inspired by her work as well.

"I started doing pottery after I bought some plates at an op shop and used them as canvasses to paint on. I still haven't made a plate yet."

Morse says he has "held his cards fairly close to his chest" as a potter so far and the prize will give him the confidence to put his work out there more.

The Rick Rudd Foundation Emerging Practitioner in Clay Award exhibition will be open for viewing at the Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics, 8 Bates St, Whanganui for the next six months.