CBF Ceramics

Claudia Basler Forbes was born in Switzerland and originally trained as a nurse before discovering clay eight years ago, shortly after moving to Australia. Now based in Kiama, she works from within the rhythms of family life, allowing daily routines, touch and quiet observation to naturally inform her practice.

Her work canters on coffee cups - intimate, functional vessels designed for everyday ritual. Each piece is wheel-thrown and features subtle variations with embedded coloured clay "fingerprints", celebrating the individuality of the handmade and the presence of the maker. With a strong interest in clay, glaze development, and the alchemy of the kiln, Claudia creates objects that balance functionality with sculptural sensitivity, exploring proportion, weight and rhythm.

Claudia has worked at Soul Clay Studios for three years as a studio technician and manager, where she teaches wheel-throwing and handbuilding, mentors emerging artists and fosters a collaborative studio environment. Her collaborative projects with artist Ingrid Richardson merge functional form with decorative gestures, exploring the intersection of design, touch and surface.