Experienced Ceramics Studio Assistant

Tantri Mustika Ceramics is seeking an experienced and highly capable Studio Assistant to provide hands-on support across making, preparation, production and studio workflow.

This is a practical studio role for someone who already understands the pace, care and discipline of a professional ceramics practice.

This role is not an internship, junior assistant role or learning placement.

Applicants must have a minimum of five years’ experience in a commercial ceramic studio, production studio, artist studio or equivalent professional making environment.

Tantri Mustika Ceramics is the ceramics practice of artist Tantri Mustika who is known for her expressive, highly tactile ceramic forms, distinctive surface work and sculptural objects that sit across art, design and interiors.

Tantri’s Carnegie based studio produces work for exhibitions, commissions, collaborations, collectors and commercial clients. As the practice grows, Tantri is seeking a trusted studio assistant who can provide competent support behind the scenes.

About the role

The Studio Assistant will support Tantri across clay preparation, production tasks, surface preparation, glazing support, studio organisation and general workflow.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can step into a working ceramics studio with competence, care and confidence. The role requires practical studio experience, attention to detail and the ability to work independently once briefed.

We are looking for someone who is:

  • Experienced, with a minimum of five years’ relevant studio or commercial practice

  • Clean, organised and methodical

  • Calm, practical and reliable

  • Able to take direction without needing constant supervision

  • Respectful of Tantri’s artistic language, methods and studio boundaries

  • Comfortable with detailed, repetitive and physical studio work

  • Confident handling fragile or high-value ceramic work

  • Interested in supporting the studio, not using the role as a learning placement

  • Able to travel to Carnegie

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include:

  • Preparing clay, reclaiming clay, wedging and organising materials

  • Preparing slabs, forms, components, textures, surfaces and tools for production

  • Supporting hand-building, trimming, smoothing, finishing and surface preparation

  • Assisting with production workflows for commissions, exhibitions, product drops or deadlines

  • Supporting glazing preparation, test tiles, glaze notes and surface documentation

  • Assisting with kiln loading and unloading, where appropriate and within experience

  • Packing, labelling and preparing fragile ceramic pieces safely

  • Cleaning, organising and maintaining the studio to a high professional standard

  • Tracking materials, tools, supplies and production notes

  • Photographing or documenting works in progress, where needed

  • Helping improve practical studio systems and workflow over time

Essential experience

Applicants must have:

  • Minimum five years’ experience in a commercial ceramics studio, artist studio or equivalent professional making environment

  • Confident clay handling skills

  • Strong understanding of ceramics studio processes, materials and workflow

  • Excellent attention to detail across form, finish, surface and handling

  • Experience working carefully with fragile, high-value or exhibition-quality objects

  • Strong understanding of studio hygiene, dust safety and safe materials handling

  • Ability to follow instructions precisely and work independently once briefed

  • Physical capacity for studio work, including standing, lifting, cleaning and repetitive making tasks

  • A calm, reliable and practical working style

  • Availability for regular studio days

  • Able to travel to Carnegie

The following skills are not all required, but will be highly valued:

  • Experience with sculptural ceramics, hand-building or large-scale ceramic forms

  • Glazing, glaze mixing or surface testing experience

  • Kiln loading and firing knowledge

  • Experience supporting artists with commissions, exhibitions or commercial production deadlines

  • Strong documentation habits, including notes, labels, images and material tracking

  • Experience packing or handling fragile ceramic work

  • Ability to anticipate studio needs without taking over the creative process

Availability

The studio is seeking someone who can become part of a consistent weekday working rhythm.

Applicants must be available to work in the studio in Carnegie on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Additional weekday availability is highly regarded during busier production periods, commissions, exhibitions and deadlines.

This will not suit applicants who are only available on weekends, evenings or irregular ad hoc days.

Engagement

How to apply

The role will begin with one paid trial day, followed by regular studio days if the fit is right.

The studio requires availability on Mondays and Tuesdays, with additional weekday availability preferred.

Hours will be agreed in advance, but the role is designed around a consistent weekly studio rhythm.

Rate will be negotiated based on experience, skill level and engagement structure. Indicative rate: $35 per hour.

Please complete the application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EEaM5x-vHaHnCMgXSlpmoicMiUAMKj9Kz3TbET_YRIg/edit

  • Your relevant ceramics, production or professional studio experience

  • Confirmation that you have at least five years’ relevant experience

  • A short summary of the studio tasks you are most confident performing

  • CV, links or examples of relevant ceramic work, studio work or production support

  • Two referees or previous studios, artists or employers who can speak to your reliability and studio skills

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. Candidates may then be invited to complete a paid trial studio day.