DEPOT Artist
Melissa Hastings (Shaw Road Ceramics)
Nestled among the apple orchards of Oratia, West Auckland, Shaw Road Ceramics was founded in 2018. With a background in film and theatre design, Melissa Hasting’s creative path took a new direction after relocating to the west coast of Tāmaki Makaurau, where her deepening connection to nature led her into the world of environmental arts. Over the years, Melissa has led and collaborated on numerous community art projects in local schools and played a key mentoring role with the talented rangatahi of the Kākano Youth Arts Collective. These experiences continue to shape her practice, bringing a strong sense of place and purpose to her work. Working from Shed 27, Melissa creates functional stoneware and sculptural vessels that reflect both her reverence for the natural world and her love of modernist design. Her pieces are characterised by soft, earthy tones and thoughtful, architectural forms—designed to bring beauty and calm into everyday life. “The medium of ceramics was the perfect place for me to land at this time in my life. I believe there is no better material than clay to demonstrate fragility and strength in equal measure, which epitomises everything I seek to reflect and create in my own artistic practice”.
