A woman with blonde hair wearing a colorful patterned shirt, black apron, and black sneakers stands in a pottery studio. She leans against a worktable with pottery tools and objects, with a rustic wall behind her decorated with frames and hanging tools.

ABOUT

Cinda Manins is a Melbourne-based visual artist and resident at Gasworks Creative Precinct (since 2019). Her work is philosophical in theme and resource-aware in practice. 

She hand-builds conceptual sculptural installations primarily in clay and sometimes incorporates mixed media, exploring themes of resilience, wisdom, temporality, and existential questions. Cinda feels deeply about the climate crisis and is committed to communicating her position through her creative medium.

Her solo exhibition, Intent (2022), at Yarra Sculpture Gallery was included in Melbourne Design Week.  Her work is held in the collection at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and she was a finalist in the Manises International Biennale of Artistic Ceramics  (Spain 2024). A recent artist residency in Greece and travel in Italy have fuelled an ambitious vision to create a body of large installation works focused on tenets of Stoic philosophy and civil democracy, as we watch it being eroded daily in 2026.

Cinda has a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Film & Media, studied a Bachelor of Fine Art (ceramics) under  Master potter, Peter Pilven, and has a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies (2017). In 2023, she completed the City of Port Phillip's Environmental Leadership Program, developing a conceptual framework for values-based leadership that informs her practice. A perpetual student, she pursues formal and informal education to develop both technical and theoretical skills.

Cinda is experienced in and enjoys project management and has co-founded ARI galleries in Ballarat and St Kilda. She is co-founder of Clay Matters (2020), a collective promoting action by clay workers to mitigate environmental crises, where she was creative producer for two exhibitions and grant writer for two successful grants.

Cinda serves on the committees of CLIMARTE and Yarra Sculpture Gallery; through these roles, she connects with communities committed to art, environmental awareness, and social engagement.

CV below ⬇️

Image: Nick Manuell

CLAY MATTERS

Clay Matters is a small collective of environmental activist artists. Founded online in the Covid lockdowns of 2020 in Australia, Clay Matters was formed when a group of people who wanted to discuss the conflict we experience as artists working with extractive resources and using fossil fuel powered energy to fire our kilns decided to get together and talk about it.  We all care deeply about the climate crisis and all the domino effects of environmental devastation. Clay Matters is a very meaningful part of my art practice, as the group is comprised of like-minded and values-based people who meet with respect and honesty, engaging in excellent conversations.
I have produced the two exhibitions presented by Clay Matters so far. You can view the project overviews under my 'Adventures' tab in the navigation bar.

CINDA MANINS CV

Education
2017 - Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies - Deakin University, Burwood 
2016 - Bachelor of Arts: Visual Arts, Ceramics - Federation University, Ballarat (incomplete by 2 units) 
1994 - Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology/Media Studies - Ballarat University & Deakin University, Geelong 
Awards                                                                            
2012 - Winner of Tertiary Ceramics Encouragement Award, Stonehouse Gallery, Warrandyte VIC
2011 - Winner Emerging Artist Award Clunes Ceramic Award, Clunes VIC
Solo Exhibitions                                           
2022 - Intent, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Abbotsford VIC – Melbourne Design Week 
2021 - Elapse, Red Gallery, Fitzroy VIC
Group Exhibitions                                       
2025 - Small, 45 Downstairs, Melbourne 
2025 - Linden Post Card Show, Linden New Art, St Kilda 
2025 - Eutopia International Ceramics Symposium Exhibition, Municipal Museum, Kastraki, Greece 
2024 - Finalist/exhibitor in Manises International Biennale Artistic Ceramics, Manises, Spain 
2024 - Facts of Matter, by Clay Matters, Linden Project Space, St Kilda 
2023 - Renewal, Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park  
2022 - Clay Matters 1, Slow Clay Centre, Collingwood 
2022 - Sculpture Now, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Abbotsford 
2022 - Home, 380.co, Smith St, Collingwood 
2022 - Small Works Prize exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy 
2021 - Bonanza, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Abbotsford (online) 
2021 - Place & Identity, Art at The Thomas, St Kilda 
2021 - Time & Conversation, Art at The Thomas, St Kilda 
2021 - Lithuanian Artist’s Group Show, Lithuanian House Gallery, North Melbourne 
2021 - Rock, Paper, Scissors, Red Gallery, Fitzroy 
2021 - Small Works Prize exhibition, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy  
2020 - Small Works Prize exhibition,  Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy 
2012 - Winner of Tertiary Ceramics Encouragement Award Stonehouse Gallery, Warrandyte 
2011 - Clunes Ceramic Award, Winner Emerging Artist Award, Clunes 
2010 - Lucato Peace Prize exhibition, Post Office Gallery, Ballarat

Collections
Art Gallery of Ballarat, VIC 
Private collections 
Grants                                                           
2024 - Cultural Development Fund - City of Port Phillip, VIC (for Clay Matters)
2022 - Climate Emergency Fund - City of Yarra, VIC (for Clay Matters)
Residency    
                                                   
2025 - Eutopia International Ceramics Symposium, Meteora, North Central Greece 
Professional Experience      
                  
2024 - Public Art Consultant/Lead Artist for Broadmeadows Kangan Institute: Ceramics -  
             Community Engagement project - 20 month project
2024 - Creative Producer, ‘The Scrolls, 3000 Days and Counting…’ for CLIMARTE at The Store Gallery, 
              Abbotsford  Convent
2022 - Curator/Creative Producer ‘Clay Matters 1’ exhibition, Slow Clay, Collingwood
2021 - Founder/Creative Producer/Project Lead of ARI Gallery, ‘Art at The Thomas’, St Kilda
2017 - Interpretive Internship, Deakin University Art Gallery and Collections Unit  
2016 - Curatorial Internship, Deakin University Art Gallery and Collections Unit 
2011 - Founding Member and Secretary of Committee of Management, ‘Space 22’ ARI Gallery, Ballarat 
Committees and Memberships                          
The Australian Ceramics Association member, 
Craft Victoria member
Resident Artist, Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park (2019 - ongoing)

Community Service
2024 - CLIMARTE Committee member (ongoing)
2021 - Clay Matters founding member (ongoing)
2021 - Yarra Sculpture Gallery Committee Member  (ongoing)
2020-22  - Gasworks Board Member – Artist Representative 
Professional Development and Training        
2025 - EVOLVE with Amy Kennedy 
2024 - Introduction to Jewellery Making - Holmesglen TAFE
2024 - The Wisdom Within – Melbourne School of Philosophy 
2023 - City of Port Phillip Environmental Leadership Program 
2021 - The International Artist: Amy Kennedy 
2020 - CELTA Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults, Holmesglen
2019- Slow Clay Professional Development Program
2005 - TAFTA Plant Fibre Paper Making course
Arts Administration and Creative Producer Experience
2023-24 - Curator/Creative Producer Clay Matters exhibition
2023-24 - Linden New Art, gallery invigilator 
2023-25 - Public Art Consultant/Lead Artist for Broadmeadows Kangan Institute: Ceramics - Community Engagement project
2024 -  Creative Producer, The Scrolls, 3000 Days and Counting… for CLIMARTE at The Store Gallery, Abbotsford Convent
2022 - Producer/Curator for Clay Matters 1 group exhibition at Slow Clay Centre
2021 - Creative Producer/Project Lead of ARI Gallery, Art at The Thomas – curation, exhibition scheduling, exhibiting, event coordination,      administration, invigilation, customer service and sales
2021- Art at The Thomas, gallery invigilation and sales
2021- ongoing Yarra Sculpture Gallery Committee Member - event management/marketing
2020 - 22 Gasworks Board Member – Artist Representative 
2020 - Co-ordinator of Gasworks Porthole Display exhibition rotation. 
2019 - ongoing Resident Artist at Gasworks Arts Park, Albert Park
 2018-19 Fundraising & Marketing Manager at Mission to Seafarers Victoria (NFP) includes administration of Maritime Art Prize – developing Terms & Conditions for entry, managing entries, responding to artist queries, managing Opening (& other) events, negotiating sponsorship.  Tour guide for visitors to the building telling heritage stories.
 2017 - Interpretive Internship, Deakin University Art Gallery and Collections Unit 
 2017 - Assisting Curator, Jessica Clark, on ‘Tell’, Indigenous photography exhibition at Ballarat Foto Biennale, Mining Exchange, Ballarat
 2016 - Curatorial Internship, Deakin University Art Gallery and Collections Unit
 2016 - Gallery Attendant & Administration, Deakin University Art Gallery 
 2006 - 2016 Owner Operator The Main Bar & Open Pantry - hospitality venues - project management, front of house customer service, hospitality all-rounder
 2010-2011  Founding Member and Secretary of Committee of Management, ‘Space 22’ Artist Run Gallery - programming, curation, invigilation, promotions