Frances Battersby

A sculptor and jeweller, Frances Battersby has led a unique artistic career spanning three decades and three cultures. Producing a varied array of work, she explores artistic themes such as scale, biophilia, eco art and architecture and creates hybrid aesthetics .

Frances began her career at Elam School of Fine Arts, graduating as the Senior Scholar. She then trained in Japanese Art for five years, beginning her research at Hiko Mizuno College in Tokyo where she studied traditional precious metal techniques. She moved to Kyoto where she entered a five year apprenticeship with 7th generation traditional silversmith, Tsuibu, and a 29th generation Karakane Bronze workshop, the oldest in Japan, practising organic patination with recycled moulds, bronze and handmade tools; techniques unchanged for 3,000 years.

Frances went on to work and exhibit in Paris at the prestigious Viaduct des Art, after which she completed a Master of Fine Art (Sculpture and Installation) degree at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. She has been involved in art triennials, festivals and conferences in Japan, New Zealand and France. She now lives and works in Auckland with her son Dylan. Her works are held in collections nationally and internationally, including Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira.