My work, jewellery and sculpture, is primarily concerned with the human figure and whilst my sculpture explores the difficulties of form and volume as expressed in large scale cast metal, carved wood and stone, my jewellery enables me to explore the different and equally complex relationships inherent in small scale pieces which can be worn on the body.

I have a deep and abiding love for small scale and enjoy the constant quest for precision, close inspection to detail and for careful workmansip. I love working in precious metals and using beautiful stones but will also use any materials which are at hand, such as found objects, wood, copper, brass, etc. Mauri

 

MAURI MAUNSELL

SCULPTOR and JEWELLER

Mauri graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1972 with an Associate Diploma of Fine Art where he majored in sculpture and began his foray into jewellery and creative metalwork.

After returning to Brisbane, he undertook two years of studying gold and silversmithing as a miscellaneous, non-examinable student at the Seven Hills College of Art in the late seventies and was invited to do an advanced course in that discipline in 1984.

His sculpture is predominantly figurative and he works in a variety of media: cast bronze and cast stainless steel (mostly maquettes for larger pieces), carved wood, laminated wood and veneers and, occasionally stone.

His jewellery mostly incorporates some figurative elements in its design and he uses diverse media in its execution: gold, silver, gems, carved and coloured woods and cast elements which have previously been modelled in wax. In fact anything appropriate for the creative work at hand.

After attending several workshops in vitreous enamel on silver and painting with enamels on copper at the Mc Gregor Schools at the University of Southern Quennsland in Toowoomba since 2015, the use of colour is a recent pursuit in jewellery making.

Mauri has exhibited extensively in group and solo exhibitions, both here and overseas over many years and has completed many commissions throughout Queensland. He has been a member of Sculptors Qld since 1974 although he was present at the original meeting at Franz Beak-Gow Gallery in mid sixties along with Frank and Dixie Lambert, George Wilson Cooper and the Shillams. His work is represented in many private collections here and overseas and is represented in the Stanthorpe Regional Gallery.

He was a tutor and Technical Assistant at the College of Art in the late eighties and Lecturer in the Gold and Silversmithing Department in 1990 and again as Tutor and Technical Assistant in 1993.

He was a tutor in the Queensland Arts Council Artlink Program in the eighties and has been a tutor in the Winter and Summer Schools at the University of Southern Queensland’s McGregor College in Toowoomba since 2002. From 2003 – 2009 he was a tutor for Flying Arts and traversed the state tutoring in sculpture and silversmithing and he also teaches privately at his studio.

In 2019 he was awarded the Shillam Award for Sculpture at the 50th Anniversary Exhibition of Sculptors Qld in Brisbane.

Mauri can be contacted on 07 3266 8040 or 0417 648 501

Details of tuition and upcoming workshops can be viewed on the Worskhops page.

A comprehensive list of Exhibitions, Commissions and Tutoring experience is listed in Mauri's Curriculum Vitae.