Artist’s Biography ~ Danica Wichterman

A woman with dark, curly hair and a blue dress sitting on a gray sofa, smiling at the camera, with a white vase with a bird design and a bouquet of flowers on a wooden table in front of her, and a large yellow, black, and white abstract painting on the wall behind.

Danica sitting with a custom vase featuring Red- tailed black cockatoos. Image by Greg Rowney

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • 2009 Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) Curtin University, Bentley, WA

  • 2006- 2008 Bachelor of Art (Art) Curtin University, Bentley, WA

  • Certificate IV in Visual Art Central TAFE, Fremantle, WA

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • 2023–current – Social Media Manager and Content Creator, Biosphere Boodja Arts and Wild Things Festival. Responsible for digital storytelling, artist promotion, community engagement, and event communications for a large-scale regional arts festival

  • 2015–current – Ceramics & Sculpture Teacher, Rediscover Ceramics, Wattle Grove (private and group classes, corporate events, school incursions and teacher professional development)

  • 2010–2022 – Teacher, Perth Waldorf School (Years 6–12 ceramics, sculpture, art)

  • 2014–2016 – Programs Coordinator & Teacher, The Clay House, Fremantle/Mosman Park

  • 2008–2014 – Tutor/ Teacher at Canning Arts Centre, Riverton WA

GRANTS & FUNDING

• 2026 – Community Feathers, WEDGE Grant through the Ceramic Arts Association of WA, I was able to run four Community Feathers: Black Cockatoo Clay Workshops at my home studio.

• 2025 – What Remains, Creative Industries Arts Short Notice Activity Program, supported by the WA Government

RESIDENCIES

  • 2026 Art Residency at Perth Collage, working with students from Pre-primary through to Year 12, Mount Lawley, WA.

  • 2014- 2016 The Clay House, one of Australia’s premier International Clay Centres with Fleur Schell and Beste Ogan North Fremantle, WA & Mosman Park, WA

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • 2012 – Highly Commended, CAAWA Annual Selective Exhibition

  • 2012 – Honourable Mention, Sculpture and Three-Dimensional Mixed Media, Artavita International Contest

  • 2011 – Highly Commended, Canning Art Award, Autumn Bud: Tempest Collection

SELECTED ACQUISITIONS

  • Curtin University of Western Australia - Alumni & Delegate Gifts (2023–2025 commissions)

  • Cockburn Council Chambers

  • Mayor Logan Howlett Private Collection

  • Government executive collection in Liaocheng, China

  • Private Collections

PUBLICATIONS

  • Important World Artists Volume1, 2012/2013

PUBLIC SPEAKING, INTERVIEWS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • 2025- Panel discussion Business of Clay at the WEDGE - 17th Australian Ceramic Triennale

  • 2023- Podcast Interview with Nic Torres- Shaping your pottery, California

  • 2023- Group Workshop, artist talk & Demonstration- Commonage Pottery & Gallery, Happs Wines Venue

  • 2022- Interview on the rise of Pottery- ABC Radio, Breakfast show, June

  • 2021- Artist talk and workshop to Year 10, 11 & 12 Students Mundaring Christian College

  • 2020- Interview with an artist with Wilamina Russo- 2ser Radio 107.3, May

  • 2018-Guest artist for the Australian Ceramics Association. Demonstration on decorating Porcelain Surface, Perth Studio Potters

  • 2018 – Guest Artist, Kings Park Festival, Aspects of Kings Park, Perth

  • 2017- Artist talk to Year 11 & 12 Students Mt Lawley Senior High School, WA

  • 2012- WA Visual Art Expo- Invited as demonstrator and exhibitor UWA, Crawley

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE ARTS

  • 2026 – Artist, Arcadia Crop Circles, Arcadia Farm, Goomalling. Created Where Feathers Gather, a site-responsive ceramic installation exploring Western Australia’s black cockatoos, native plants and habitat, exhibited within the wheat fields. Developed Community Feathers alongside local community members and school students through hands-on clay workshops, creating more than 120 ceramic feathers that formed part of the Arcadia installation and raised awareness of black cockatoo conservation.

  • 2026 – Artist in Residence, Perth College, Mount Lawley, WA. Worked with students from Pre-primary through to Year 12 across a school-wide ceramic arts residency. Led a major collaborative leaf project, with students creating hundreds of ceramic leaves and gumnuts, particularly through the primary school program. The leaves were decorated in colours representing the six Noongar seasons and assembled onto branches to create a large sculptural installation for display within the school and the wider school community.

  • 2025 – Artist, crop circle installation, Biosphere Boodja Arts and Wild Things Festival, Goomalling, WA. Site-responsive sculptural work experienced by over 3,000 festival attendees, alongside public workshops, talks, and immersive arts programming integrating clay, sound, and landscape

  • 2025– West Leederville Primary School mural project, WA

  • 2014–2016 – Artist-in-residence, The Clay House (International Clay Centre), WA

  • 2016–2024 – Kalamunda Open Studios, Rediscover Ceramics, Wattle Grove

  • 2013- 2020 Mentor and Supervisor for Class 12 students undergoing their projects through the Steiner Curriculum.

  • Co- curator, Perth Waldorf School Highschool Creative Exhibition

  • 2009-2018 Co-ordinator of the working group Reconnecting Arts and Community, organising public events, workshops and markets.

REPRESENTATION

  • Ongoing gallery representation including Aspects of Kings Park; John Curtin Gallery Gift Shop, Curtin University; The Junction Co, Courthouse Gallery and Studio, WA; and the Australian Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, NSW. See full list