Jane Du Rand

Jane du Rand is a South African-born, Ipswich-based artist whose practice bridges architecture, ceramics, and large-scale mosaic installation. Her work is grounded in an interest in the relationship between built environments and lived experience, using site-specific visual languages to reflect the social and ecological character of each location.

Du Rand spent one year at the Michaelis School of Fine Art before completing a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture, qualifying her as a registered architect in South Africa. This dual training informs her integrated approach to art and architecture.

While practising as an architect, she began developing ceramic and mosaic commissions, initially linked to architectural projects. In 1998, she established her own mosaic studio, which has grown into a collaborative practice frequently involving community participation. Many of her projects are embedded within established communities, where workshops and participatory making form part of the installation process.

Her large-scale works are hand-produced in studio before being installed on site, often internationally. These installations incorporate layered iconography drawn from local environments, transforming architectural surfaces into narrative and interpretive spaces. Du Rand’s practice emphasises material craft, collective authorship, and the integration of art within public infrastructure.

She has received numerous awards and international recognition, including being a finalist in the 2023 Siliceous Award for ceramic excellence and participation in the Clay: Collected Ceramics, where her work Brisbane Bush Turkey was acquired by the Museum of Brisbane. Her public commissions include All the Birds Singing (2023) at Ipswich Hospital Mental Health Unit, alongside exhibitions such as Living in Ipswich (2020) and Green Red and Black (2023).

Jane du Rand’s mosaic practice transforms architectural surfaces into narrative environments shaped by place, participation, and material memory. Working across international contexts, she integrates ceramic and mosaic installations into civic and community spaces, embedding locally responsive iconography into the fabric of the built environment. Her works operate at the intersection of architecture and public art, where process, collaboration, and site-specific storytelling converge.

Reference List

Durand Mosaic Studio (n.d.) About Jane du Rand. Available at: https://www.durandmosaic.com/about (Accessed: 22 April 2026).

South African History Archive (n.d.) Who is Jane du Rand? Available at: https://sthp.saha.org.za/memorial/articles/who_is_jane_du_rand.htm (Accessed: 22 April 2026).