Scenic Rim artist to feature at Expo 2025 Osaka

Scenic Rim artist Larissa Warren. Photo credit: Sabine Bannard.

Local artist Larissa Warren will represent the Scenic Rim's creative talent on the global stage during October, with her work selected to feature in an exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan.

Expo 2025 Osaka highlights the way in which traditional craft and contemporary design can contribute to solving global sustainability challenges, and features participants from more than 160 countries and organisations.

Scenic Rim Regional Council Community, Arts and Culture Portfolio Councillor Kerri Cryer said the exhibition presented a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent of Scenic Rim's craftspeople on a global stage.

"Larissa Warren's selection is an incredible achievement," Cr Cryer said.

“Her ceramics are made from local clays and are based on the stories of Tamborine Mountain, giving the international community an insight into the Scenic Rim's rich history and culture."

Larissa Warren works from her home studio, a reclaimed underground bunker on Tamborine Mountain, and is known for her work which explores the complex layers of geology, memory and place through a distinctive combination of raw local clays, stained porcelain, colour, and organic textures.

She has also curated Shifting Ground, a touring exhibition developed through Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Creative Scenic Rim program in partnership with Museums & Galleries Queensland.

"Shifting Ground is showing at The Centre Beaudesert from Saturday 2 August to 11 October, and it's a good opportunity to witness the work of this artist on the rise, as well as the work of 12 other contemporary women potters, before they take their collection on the road to 12 galleries across Australia," Cr Cryer said.

Shifting Ground explores themes of resilience, creativity and place through the lens of the Scenic Rim’s clay and craft heritage, showcasing the depth and talent of regional women artists past and present.

Cr Cryer said Scenic Rim Regional Council is proud to see Larissa's work recognised on the world stage.

"Cultural engagement and participation is recognised by Council as integral to building community capacity," she said.

"It's important for us to celebrate and support local artists, explore regional history, and share it with locals and visitors alike."

Set to take place in October during Expo 2025 Osaka's Sustainability Week, artisan - Queensland's leading body for craft and design - is bringing Queensland’s craftspeople to an international audience in the Australian Pavilion. 

This special event will show First Nations artwork, and how craftspeople and designers can contribute to practical solutions for global environmental challenges to Japanese counterparts and institutions in a bid to develop reciprocal residency and learning opportunities. 

For more information about Larissa Warren visit ratbagstudios.com.

For information on Expo 2025 Osaka, go to expo2025.or.jp/en

For more about the Shifting Ground exhibition, go to creativescenicrim.com