Since 1994, Mud Australia has created elegant and timeless porcelain homewares. AU
The original Mud Australia store opened in Woollahra in 2007. Since then we’ve opened 12 stores globally.
As 2024 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank our community for your continued support. This year, we’ve proudly celebrated 30 years of crafting porcelain by hand in Sydney, Australia, and your support has made this milestone even more meaningful.
Let’s take a look back at some of our favourite moments from this special year. From exciting new product launches and collaborations to unforgettable events, it’s been a year filled with creativity, connection, and gratitude. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey with us.
Celebrating 30 Years of Mud Australia
To celebrate 30 years of Mud Australia, we took a moment to reflect on our incredible journey, which began in a small studio garage in 1994, where Shelley first discovered her passion for pottery.
Shelley shares, "It’s been an extraordinary experience growing this business, collaborating with talented individuals, and connecting with our global community. Our customers have played a vital role in our success, and I’m deeply grateful for their ongoing support."
To mark this milestone, we celebrated in style across all our stores—Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London, New York, and Los Angeles—with cake and champagne. These festivities kicked off a year-long celebration, filled with exclusive product launches, creative collaborations, special events, and much more. We’re excited for what’s ahead and incredibly thankful to have you with us on this journey.
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Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize
The announcement of Alfred Lowe as the winner of the 2024 Shelley Simpson Ceramic Prize (SSCP). This milestone not only provided Alfred with well-deserved international exposure but also a $10,000 cash prize. His work will be showcased in Mud Australia’s 12 retail stores globally, including locations in London, New York, Los Angeles, and Australia.
For Alfred, this marks the first time his ceramics will be displayed internationally since starting his career in 2021, making this a significant achievement in his journey. We are incredibly proud to support emerging talent like Alfred and excited to see how the SSCP continues to offer opportunities for artists to reach new audiences. It’s been a highlight of the year, underscoring our commitment to celebrating creativity, fostering talent, and connecting with our global community.
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Sustainability
We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to further our commitment to sustainability, an integral part of Mud Australia’s ethos. One of the key initiatives was our innovative repurposing of old plaster moulds, which we transformed into fertilizer. This initiative reflects our dedication to reducing waste and creating a more circular approach to manufacturing.
We also celebrated the launch of our limited edition Zero-Waste Terrazzo Trivet Collection in collaboration with Five Mile Radius. This collection exemplifies Shelley's ongoing effort to recycle, reuse, and reduce our environmental impact, while turning what would typically be waste into beautiful, functional design pieces.
Copenhagen 3 Days of Design with Ark Journal
Hosting an unforgettable dinner party at the Apollo Kantine in the stunning Kunsthal Charlottenborg Museum. The evening was a true celebration of design, collaboration, seasonal dining, and the unique charm of Copenhagen.
Guests were welcomed with a scenic boat ride from the Ark Journal Design Exhibition at Pakhus 11, cruising through Copenhagen Harbour. This beautiful journey set the tone for an evening filled with elegance and sophistication. Upon arriving at Kunsthal Charlottenborg — one of Northern Europe's most impressive contemporary art spaces — guests were greeted in the grand foyer of the historic building with a glass of rosé, setting the stage for a night of connection and creativity.
This event was a testament to the power of design and collaboration, and we are grateful to have shared such a special evening with our community, further strengthening our ties with the global design world.
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Limited Edition Rescued Rose Collection
This collection, curated by our Creative Director and founder Shelley Simpson, embodies our commitment to sustainability and creativity. Shelley carefully selected trimmings in complementary tones, resulting in a beautiful, soft dusty rose colour.
The collection features the Hive Vase Medium, Fish Platter, Charger Plate, and Pebble Bowl Large, each marked individually with the rescued clay symbol and a unique number, highlighting the thoughtful process behind each piece. This collection not only celebrates design but also showcases our ongoing dedication to upcycling and reducing waste, making it a truly special addition to our range.
Pop Lamp has won the NYCxDESIGN product design award
Our Pop Lamp secured first place in the lighting fixtures category at this year's NYCxDesign Awards. Other nominees included Arteriors, David Weeks Studio, and John Wells Metal. The winners were chosen by a jury of esteemed designers, urban planners, architects, and journalists.
Celebrating New York's vibrant creative scene, the NYCxDesign awards, now in their ninth year and hosted by Interior Design Magazine, highlight exceptional projects and products in the A+D industry.
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Opening two new stores in Islington and Albert Park
Throughout the year, we proudly opened our 12th and 13th stores—our second UK location in Islington, London, and our third in Melbourne, a pop-up in Albert Park.
The Islington store, located on Upper Street, is surrounded by top design stores, fashion boutiques, and vibrant food and drink destinations.
In Melbourne, our pop-up at 150 Bridport Street sits in the heart of Albert Park, a neighbourhood known for its contemporary design, high-end boutiques, and lively café culture. These openings reflect our continued growth and commitment to connecting with global communities.
Mud Talks
This year, we were thrilled to host two Mud Talks, with our founder Shelley Simpson as a speaker at both events, further cementing our connection with the global design community.
Our first-ever US MudTalk took place during NYC x Design in May, where we explored the Retail Renaissance unfolding in our unique Brooklyn neighbourhood. Moderated by Brooklynite and Executive Editor of Elle Decor, Ingrid Abramovitch, the panel featured Shelley Simpson alongside Michele Varian, designer and founder of Michele Varian Shop & Design, and Sarah Zames, principal of General Assembly and co-founder of Assembly Line. The discussion highlighted the evolving retail landscape in Brooklyn, bringing together influential voices from the Atlantic Avenue design community.
In May, we also hosted our first-ever UK MudTalk during London Craft Week, where we delved into the world of mindful manufacturing at scale. Shelley Simpson was joined by Vitsœ MD Mark Adams and Corin Mellor, designer-craftsman for David Mellor, in a thought-provoking evening panel moderated by Sophie Grove, editor of Konfekt magazine and podcast.
Both Mud Talks were incredible opportunities to share insights and foster meaningful discussions around design, craftsmanship, and sustainability with our global community.
All day, every day 2024
Alongside all of these exciting activities, we’ve remained committed to focusing our energy inward, doing what we love most—creating thoughtfully and sustainably. We continue to cherish the process, while also prioritising the well-being of our global team of over 130 employees.
