Keith Lewis is a New Zealand-born ceramicist living and working in London.



Growing up in New Zealand during the 50's & 60's my appreciation of ceramics was nurtured by the wave of European & Japanese artists whose work influenced generations of potters in my home country: Hamada, Leach, Coper, Rie, Smisek among others.

Constantly travelling during a long and celebrated career as an operatic tenor, I found myself in Taiwan looking at the ceramics in the Palace Collection on the outskirts of Taipei. It was a watershed moment when I realised I needed to learn to make as well as admire.

In 2000 I was made a Companion of Merit by the Queen for Services to Opera.

Back in London, when I began studying ceramics I first benefitted from the knowledge and guidance of Nicola Tassie, and laterly Stuart Carey, Duncan Hooson, and Annette Welch.

My installation, Peckham Bowls, was exhibited in Lancelot’s Link at Southwark Cathedral in 2018.

My studio is within The Kiln Rooms in Peckham Rye. For further information about my work, pricing, and commissions please use one of the links on the contact page.

Dozens of my recordings remain available via the normal channels: Amazon, Spotify, etc. My recording of Don Giovanni for the Glyndebourne Festival was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1984.

Click here for a full bio about my life in music and links to recordings.



All photos by Tif Hunter

© Keith Lewis 2018